P1racenews AI automatic summary:
No surprise at the feeling of animosity felt after Renault’s tumultuous decision.
Alpine Racing staff representatives have issued a statement expressing their disappointment after Renault’s decision to close its works engine programme at Viry from 2026. Renault announced this decision recently, leading employees to stage a protest at the Italian Grand Prix to seek support for their cause and engage with Renault Group CEO Luca Di Meo directly. Despite discussions in September, Renault opted to halt the 2026 PU programme, prompting Alpine to transition to a customer engine status that season. The closure of Renault’s F1 power unit programme, under evaluation for months, will make Alpine the first team in the turbo-hybrid era to relinquish full works status. Employees affected by this change will have the option to join the ‘Hypertech Alpine’ project at Viry. The staff from Alpine Racing emphasized their disappointment with the decision, arguing that it lacks a thorough evaluation of the impact on future sales and brand prestige, questioning the shift’s managerial resources and long-term implications. They highlighted the history of the Viry site’s decisions, indicating the importance of retaining skilled workers for potential F1 returns and criticizing the uncertain nature of future projects at Viry. The vertical restructuring due to this decision is anticipated to result in job reductions at the site, impacting both direct positions and indirect roles within associated partners and programs like the Alpine Mechanical Excellence Competition.
