Renault RENA.PA has decided to end in-house production of Formula 1 engines after next season for financial reasons, but its Alpine team is a “family jewel” and is not for sale, it said on Friday general director Luca de Meo.
In an interview with the sports daily L’Equipe, Luca de Meo defended the choice to equip the Alpine with an engine supplied by another manufacturer, probably Mercedes, from 2026.
The decision, announced on Monday, will end nearly half a century of presence of Renault engines in F1, with the French manufacturer having propelled Williams, Benetton, its own team and Red Bull to 12 constructors’ titles.
Luca de Meo said Renault spent 200 to 250 million euros per year on engine production at the Viry-Châtillon (Essonne) site while purchasing an engine from another manufacturer would cost less than 20 million euros.
He added that Renault was at a disadvantage compared to other teams by having chassis and engine factories in different countries, with the team based in Enstone, central England.
“At Enstone, they are very independent, used to working for different colors. I should have grouped everything together, but it would have been in England… Hard, isn’t it?” he added.
De Meo said former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore was hired to revitalize the F1 project, not to oversee a change of ownership.
“I read that he is supposed to package the project in order to ultimately sell the team. This is completely false. I understand the advantages for us of being in F1,” declared the Italian.
“I receive calls every 15 days from financiers, from eccentrics who want to get into F1. They know that after 2026 it will cost much more.”
“I’m not going to sell, I’m not stupid. Being in F1 is essential for the Alpine brand. We’re in the exclusive club. It gives credibility to the brand among car enthusiasts. We don’t need of this money,” he added.
According to the Renault group chief executive, most fans focus on the team and drivers rather than the engine, citing championship leaders McLaren winning and attracting sponsors despite using a Mercedes engine.
Alpine, whose investors include Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds and NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, has become “invisible” – ninth team out of ten, with marketing advantages vanishing.
“Another two years like this and the project would completely deflate. We have been on a downward slope for three seasons,” said Luca de Meo, who described the new team director Oliver Oakes as a future great.
(Written by Alan Baldwin in London, French version Vincent Daheron)
