Ahead of the new 2026 power unit regulations in Formula One, Renault has announced its decision to cease its partnership with the Alpine Renault team. This marks the end of a 47-year legacy of engine manufacturing in the sport. This change is fundamental, as the French manufacturer has a rich history as a major provider for a dozen championship-winning cars.
Since 1976, the Renault Group's Viry-Châtillon factory has been at the heart of its Formula One engine production. Renault engines have had over four decades of involvement, with the second highest Grand Prix entries after Ferrari. The departure from engine supply represents a monumental shift for a company so deeply intertwined with Formula One. Alongside providing engines for other teams, Renault has notably always produced its own engines, staying true to its strong French heritage, and maintaining close ties to France's engineering excellence.
The base will soon be transformed into Hypertech Alpine, an advanced engineering centre. This new facility will focus on developing electric motor and battery technologies, signalling the company’s commitment to innovation and the future of electric mobility in motorsport. While this move aligns with the industry’s shift toward sustainability, it also depicts Renault’s broader strategy to pivot away from customary combustion engines in Formula One.
Despite its past victories, Alpine Renault, formally Renault, has struggled in recent years. With only six races remaining of the 2024 season, the team currently sits ninth in the Constructor's Championship.
The decision to change engine suppliers therefore could represent a gamble to help Alpine regain its former competitive edge and return to the top ranks of the sport.
This underperformance contrasts sharply with Renault’s successful years, during which their engines powered dominant cars, including Fernando Alonso's 2005 and 2006 world title cars. The decision to change engine suppliers therefore could represent a gamble to help Alpine regain its former competitive edge and return to the top ranks of the sport. This could be the crucial step needed, as the team's rotating driver line up, along with the efforts of strategists and team principals, has not been enough to bring Alpine back into contention for podium finishes.
In recent years, the Renault Group has also faced internal tensions that may have contributed to Alpine’s difficulties, beyond mechanical hindrances. Former team principal Cyril Abiteboul's sudden resignation in 2021 after 20 years of loyal service to the French car manufacturer, raised questions about stability within the team. More recently, in a tell all interview with former team principle Otmar Szafnauer, subsequent comments further exposed internal dysfunction. Szafnauer highlighted “so, for example, I knew straight away, HR didn’t report to me – they reported up through France. The finance office didn’t report to me..... and that in itself I knew was going to be problematic." In this conversation he implies how the challenges associated with his role, may have attributed to some of the short comings of the team. Szafnauer also claimed he felt many employees in high positions, within the collective, seemed to be more career motivated, than focused on the success of Alpine. This shift away from manufacturing in-house engines could thus be a beneficial adjustment to avoid conflicts of interest, damaging the car's performance.
Looking ahead, the Renault Group's departure as Alpine Formula One team's engine supplier marks both the end of an era and the start of a new chapter for the French team. While this transition brings uncertainty, it also offers an opportunity for Alpine to rebuild its competitiveness. Mercedes engines are reportedly an option for Alpine from 2026, potentially offering a route to become a top point scoring team.
