In the Caradisiac comments column, some like to make fun of Renault’s engines from time to time by recalling that the brand has never sold cars with mechanics as powerful and extravagant as those of the famous German brands. But in the history of Formula 1, Renault engine performance is no laughing matter. Certainly, the powertrains concocted within the Viry-Châtillon factory have clearly lost their splendor over the last decade.
Criticized by Red Bull, who eventually parted ways with it in favor of Honda, as not as well developed as the power units of Mercedes or Ferrari when they switched to a new type of engine in 2014, the Renault unit is also currently suffering from an Alpine F1 team that has completely lost its level of competitiveness due to management disrupted by numerous changes of direction.
This management, which has led to the departure of its leaders several times since last year, finally pushed the boss of the Renault group Luca de Meo to place Flavio Briatore at its head in a special consultant role. And the most brutal decision taken following the last reorganization was to stop the construction of the Renault engine to make Alpine a simple customer team from 2026, by buying Mercedes engines. A decision that shocked everyone at the Viry-Châtillon plant where the engines are manufactured, even though work to develop the 2026 one (when a new change in regulations is planned) was already well advanced.
And now what do we do?
The aim of this stoppage of Renault engine production? To save around a hundred million euros each year in Formula 1, while reorganising the Alpine F1 team’s troops around a new way of working with the aim of being regularly on the podiums within three years.
The organisation of the team, whose chassis department is located in England while the engine department remains in France, has posed many problems in recent seasons. However, it is also this way of doing things that allowed Renault F1 to win four great titles (two drivers and two constructors) in 2005 and 2006, with Fernando Alonso and already Flavio Briatore at the head of Renault F1.
A national question?
In a press release issued during the Dutch Grand Prix, the Viry-Châtillon factory recalled that the first tests of the future RS26 A engine of 2026 were very positive. And it sharply criticizes Luca de Meo’s strategy: “Mr. De Meo told us that the soul of the Alpine brand had to be nourished by its roots and that there was no question of cutting them. He told us that money was not a problem and that only innovation counted. We do not understand what justifies killing this elite entity that is the Viry-Châtillon site and betraying its legend and its DNA by grafting a Mercedes heart into our Alpine F1.”we can read there.
The importance of remaining an engine supplier actually goes beyond the simple framework of the compatibility of a Formula 1 team. It is also a matter of prestige and image of the entire groupbut also of the French automobile industry. Renault’s engines in Formula 1 represent 23 championship titles in total and the most awarded engine in the history of the discipline behind that of Ferrari.
The Viry-Châtillon plant must restructure towards other projects after this strategic change, but its employees hope to convince management to frear machine area and keep Formula 1 engines at the heart of the Renault group’s strategy. Luca de Meo, the one who validated this strategy, has never spoken on the subject since.
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