Left in limbo by their parent company, the employees of Renault’s under-threat Formula 1 engine programme are making their voices heard at the Italian Grand Prix.
Renault chief Luca de Meo is currently working through plans to abandon the brand’s long-time F1 engine programme in France’s Viry-Chatillon and switch to Mercedes customer engines for its Alpine-branded works team instead.
If confirmed, the decision would mean the end of a 47-year-long era of Renault engines roaring on the F1 grid. Since 1979, its involvement resulted in 178 grand prix wins – including nine under the TAG Heuer name – as the third most successful engine manufacturer in F1 history, having powered the likes of Williams, Benetton and Red Bull since the 90s.
In late July, staff at Renault’s factories at Viry-Chatillon and Enstone were informed of an evaluation study to plot a “transformation project” for its engine division away from its current F1 activities, and ever since the 334 employees of the engine division in France have been anxiously awaiting their future course, disagreeing with any decision that takes Viry away from F1.
To make their voices heard to the wider public, 100 staff members – who are part of the company’s Social and Economic Council (CSE) – travelled to the Italian Grand Prix and unfurled banners on two parts of Monza’s main straight grandstands.
The CSE announced “a large majority” of Renault’s engine staff at Viry-Chatillon would also go on strike simultaneously and express its discontent “in a respectful but determined atmosphere”.
At the start of FP1, the two groups of 50 employees all stood up to display their banners, but nevertheless applauded both Alpine drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly as they headed out on track.
A deadline on the decision looms on 30 September and the staff involved are hoping it is not too late for De Meo to have a change of heart and continue Viry’s long-standing F1 legacy.
“The aim of coming today is to be heard,” Clement Gamberoni, an engineer managing the squad’s turbocharger department at Viry, tells Autosport. “We have the feeling that we are not heard enough and are not putting our voice out publicly.
Alpine protestors from Viry-Chatillon
Photo by: Anaël Bernier – Horizons Multiples
“We are passionate people. We are very proud of being in F1 and of having the car with our engine running on the track.
“But what we want is not to be against anything….
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