P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Amid growing unrest at Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo’s decision to abandon Formula 1 engine production at Viry-Chatillon, staff from the French facility are planning a peaceful protest during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Alpine plans to reinvent its Anglo-French operation, ceasing production of Formula 1 power units at Viry, a decades-long project, […]
Alpine is planning to transition its Anglo-French operation by becoming a Mercedes customer team in 2026, which involves ceasing production of Formula 1 power units at Viry after a long-standing project. The move has faced strong opposition from the Social and Economic Council (CSE) of Alpine employees, who are concerned about the impact on the Viry site’s legacy and Alpine’s image. The CSE is set to make a statement with a physical presence at Monza, advocating for the continuation of a French engine in F1 with a non-aggressive demonstration involving 100 staff members split into two groups. In addition to the planned protest, a significant portion of Viry-Chatillon staff will go on strike during the Italian GP weekend to express their dissatisfaction. The decision to switch to a customer team model is aimed at saving around $100 million annually for Alpine, given the past underperformance of their F1 power units. Team drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly have emphasized the importance of open dialogue and focusing on their performance on the track during this challenging transition period.
