Renault staff plead to preserve legacy amid Mercedes F1 engine deal
Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool
Renault F1 engine staff are expressing strong opposition to the company's impending decision to abandon its own engine production in favor of a customer deal with Mercedes, deeming the move a "betrayal" of the company's storied legacy.
Alpine's engine production in jeopardy
Alpine, the team rebranded from Renault in 2021, appears poised to halt engine production at its Viry-Chatillon factory following several years of lackluster performance in Formula 1. A final decision is slated for September 30, with indications pointing toward the team confirming a deal with Mercedes.
Employees at the Viry-Chatillon factory have expressed their discontent. A statement from the Social and Economic Council of Alpine employees (Conseil Social et Economique) criticized Renault CEO Luca De Meo.
"Mr. De Meo assured us that the soul of the Alpine brand should be nourished by its roots and that there was no question of severing them,” the statement read. “He told us that money was not an issue and that only innovation matters. We fail to understand what justifies dismantling the elite entity that is the Viry-Châtillon factory and betraying its legacy and DNA by implanting a Mercedes heart into our Alpine F1. The announcement of the end of the development and production of French Power Units for Formula 1 is a nonsense."
The employees underscored their plea to the Renault leadership: "We cannot accept that Alpine and the Renault Group tarnish their images, which is why we urge Mr. De Meo and his board of directors to reverse this decision. We do not understand what justifies killing this elite entity that is the Viry-Chatillon site and betraying its legend and its DNA by grafting a Mercedes heart into our F1 Alpine [car]. The announcement of the end of the development and production of French power units for Formula 1 is incomprehensible."
A customer deal with Mercedes is forecasted to be significantly cheaper for Alpine. The statement noted that such a deal would represent "a significant direct saving, trading development costs of $120 million for $17 million in annual supply."
Despite financial incentives, the Viry factory is confident in Renault’s 2026 engine project, citing early test results as promising. New rules slated for that season will emphasize engine performance as a critical differentiator on the track.
"On this first engine, almost a third of the performance concepts, previously validated on the system bench, are still absent, planned for introduction before the end of 2024. However, the first test results are promising," the statement elaborated.
The employees argued that the majority of Alpine's recent performance issues stem from car development at the team's UK factory in Enstone, not from the engines produced in France.
"Since 2022, the deficit attributed to the power unit accounts for 20% of the car's total shortfall, with the remainder due to the Enstone chassis, which struggles to solidify its structure amid successive changes in direction," the employees noted.
Of the current engine, the statement added: "The RE26A is seen by all the Viry-Chatillon teams as a great success, a well-born engine with a clear potential, a year and a half from the first race, to raise the ambitions of Alpine F1 team."
As the decision date approaches, the determination of Viry employees strings a narrative of loyalty and technical promise amidst potential corporate shifts.
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