P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Now Renault has effectively confirmed its Formula 1 engine programme will close after 2025, our writers reflect on the move and the status of the ailing manufacturer
The Alpine Formula 1 team has confirmed that Renault’s F1 engine activities will continue until the end of 2025, indicating that the program will conclude after that point, with resources being repositioned at Viry-Chatillon under the ‘Hypertech Alpine’ division. Despite no official announcement about the engine program’s end or the team’s plans for 2026 onward, indications point towards Alpine becoming a Mercedes customer squad at the start of the next F1 rules cycle. Renault’s decision to shutter its engine program raises questions about its ambitions and the perception within the wider group. Critics argue that relinquishing full control over chassis and engine development signals a lack of vision and commitment. The move towards becoming a customer team may reflect a strategy to save money and prepare for a potential sale, rather than a serious pursuit of success in F1. Renault’s decision to separate Enstone and Viry staff suggests a more permanent disconnection compared to their previous withdrawals from F1, potentially signaling a shift in the team’s long-term strategy and priorities.
