Renault to End F1 Engine Program After 2025
Renault has announced its decision to end its Formula 1 engine program after the 2025 season, marking the end of nearly 50 years of continuous involvement in F1 engine production.
The move comes as part of a broader restructuring of its Alpine F1 team and the transformation of its engine facility at Viry-Chatillon in France. This facility, which has been responsible for designing and building F1 engines since Renault's entry into the sport in 1977, will be converted into a new engineering and high-tech centre called "Hypertech Alpine" by the end of 2024.
Alpine CEO Philippe Krief described the transformation of the Viry-Chatillon site as a "turning point" for the brand. He emphasised that the Hypertech Alpine project is part of a broader innovation strategy for both Alpine and Renault, stating that the site will continue to play a role in the brand’s racing DNA while contributing to ambitious new industrial and automotive projects.
Alpine F1 operations to be based in UK after 2024
Alpine’s F1 operations will now be concentrated in the UK at their chassis division in Enstone, while the Viry-Chatillon facility will shift focus towards developing electric motors, battery technology, and high-performance vehicles.
The decision means that Alpine, Renault’s F1 team, will no longer have in-house engines starting in 2026. The team is expected to source its power units from Mercedes, one of F1’s leading engine suppliers.
In their statement, Alpine confirmed that the transition was the result of "constructive discussions" with employee representatives, and that all affected employees will be offered new positions within the Hypertech Alpine project.
An F1 monitoring unit will also be established at Viry, with the aim of preserving the team's expertise in the sport and continuing to innovate in other high-tech areas.
End of engine program closes a chapter
The end of Renault's F1 engine program closes a historic chapter for the manufacturer, which has won 10 constructors’ titles and nine drivers’ championships as an engine supplier.
Legends like Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, and Sebastian Vettel all secured titles using Renault power. The company's own team also claimed back-to-back championships with Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006.
Renault’s decision has been expected within the F1 community for some time, following years of underperformance with their hybrid power units. Since the introduction of the current engine regulations in 2014, Renault has struggled to replicate the success it enjoyed during the V8 and V10 eras.
The team’s most recent victory came in 2021 at the Hungarian Grand Prix, and this season Alpine currently sits ninth in the constructors’ standings.
Alpine to continue to compete in motorsport
In addition to their F1 efforts, Alpine will continue to compete in other motorsport categories, including the World Endurance Championship, Formula E, and rally-raid events. These ventures will form a key part of the Hypertech Alpine operation, which aims to push the boundaries of performance and sustainability in motorsport and beyond.
As the 2026 engine regulations loom, Alpine will work closely with Mercedes to develop a competitive power unit. In the meantime, the team will run Renault engines for the rest of the 2024 and 2025 seasons, with hopes of improving their performance on the track.
