Renault has confirmed that its energy unit operation will stop on the finish of the present set of laws, with the Alpine Formulation 1 crew to turn into a buyer entry.
The intention to show Alpine right into a buyer crew was made public earlier this 12 months, and Renault stated on the time that it was getting into a interval of session because it explored completely different choices for the Viry-Chatillon facility that has made F1 engines for almost all of the previous 50 years. Staff staged a protest on the Italian Grand Prix asking for Renault to rethink as they felt they’d been making good progress with the 2026 energy unit laws, nevertheless it has now been confirmed that 2025 would be the final 12 months of Renault energy models.
As a replacement at Viry-Chatillon, Renault has introduced it should create a high-tech engineering heart known as Hypertech Alpine that can start operations later this 12 months and “contribute to the event of ultra-high-performance autos and improvements in cutting-edge applied sciences, for Alpine and Renault Group”. The modifications to the location will end in sources which might be presently allotted to the F1 energy unit division being redistributed elsewhere.
The initiatives that will likely be developed at Viry embrace a future Alpine supercar, battery and new electrical motor applied sciences, and the World Endurance Championship (WEC) program, together with buyer motorsports outdoors of F1.
From an F1 perspective, Renault says it desires to maintain a type of connection as an observer to study from the game’s future applied sciences via an ‘F1 monitoring unit’ that will likely be established.
“Because of the session course of with the worker representatives, throughout which discussions have been constructive and an impartial evaluation was carried out, Alpine’s administration confirms its undertaking to remodel the location into a middle of engineering and high-tech excellence by late 2024,” an Alpine assertion learn. “Formulation 1 actions at Viry, excluding the event of a brand new engine, will proceed till the tip of the 2025 season.
“Every worker affected by this transformation undertaking will likely be proposed a brand new place inside Alpine Hypertech.”
RACER understands a Mercedes energy unit provide deal has been mentioned with Alpine from 2026 onwards, with Mercedes dropping Aston Martin as a buyer to Honda at first of the brand new laws.
