Representatives of Renault’s Formula 1 engine staff at Viry-Chatillon have called for the French manufacturer to rethink plans for Alpine to become a Mercedes customer – suggesting the decision is a ‘betrayal.’
As part of an effort to improve its fortunes, the Alpine Formula 1 team is poised to commit to becoming a Mercedes customer team from 2026 onwards.
A final decision on the engine plan and the future of its Viry headquarters is expected to take place on 30 September, with a study having already been commissioned by Renault into transferring the focus of F1 personnel at the French factory on to new technology development.
But with current Renault engine staff already understood to have voiced dismay to bosses and Renault CEO Luca de Meo over the decision to abandon its F1 engine project, which originally began in 1977, representatives of its personnel have now gone public with their concerns.
A statement issued by the Social and Economic Council of Alpine employees in Viry-Chatillon (Conseil Social et Economique) sent to Autosport outlined that the technical promise already shown by its 2026 engine more than justified Renault continuing with the project.
It said: “The Group’s management plans to stop the 2026 programme at Viry-Chatillon and opt for an engine supply, probably from Mercedes.
“The reason given is a significant direct saving, trading development costs of $120million for $17million in annual supply.”
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
It added: “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.
“We cannot accept that Alpine and the Renault Group damage their images, which is why we ask Mr. De Meo and his board of directors to renounce this decision.”
In the lengthy document, the Social and Economic Council outlined how Viry had hit some aggressive development targets with the new engine – which it said had shown good potential during dyno testing.
“More than a hundred disruptive concepts were studied, nearly a third of which demonstrated significant performance on the test bench and should be introduced on the future Alpine engine: the AR26,” it said.
“The target was to start the first…
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