Era over as major player pulls out of F1

French car manufacturer Renault has confirmed it will stop producing Formula 1 engines for Alpine following the 2025 season.
Alpine is a subsidiary of Renault, which rebranded its factory F1 team in 2021.
Renault stopped supplying engines to rival teams several years ago but will cease its F1 engine program altogether after almost half a century as a manufacturer for the class.
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Esteban Ocon drives the Alpine F1 A524 at the Monaco Grand Prix. Clive Rose via Getty Images
The decision, which was announced on Monday, was made ahead of the next overhaul of F1’s regulations, which will come into effect for the 2026 season.
Alpine has long been in talks with Mercedes about a customer power unit deal and is expected to switch in 2026.
This followed months of speculation about the future of Renault’s power unit operations, including a review of the company’s F1 engine factory in Viry-Chatillon, south of Paris.
After ceasing manufacture, the factory will be transformed into an engineering centre with the sole purpose of furthering the technology of future Renault and Alpine cars and other motorsport activities.
In a company statement, it was revealed that Renault would abandon its work on its 2026 F1 engines but would continue to supply the current turbo-hybrid engine to Alpine until the end of next season.
“Formula 1 activities at Viry-Châtillon, excluding the development of a new engine, will continue until the end of the 2025 season,” the statement read.
“Following the consultation process and dialogue with the employee representatives at Viry-Châtillon, Alpine has decided to establish an F1 monitoring unit.
Australian Jack Doogan will race for Alpine in 2025. Formula 1 via Getty Images
“This unit will aim to maintain employees’ knowledge and skills in this sport and remain at the forefront of innovation for Hypertech Alpine’s various projects.”
Alpine CEO Philippe Krief added: “Creating this Hypertech Alpine centre is key to Alpine’s development strategy and, more broadly, to the group’s innovation strategy.
“It is a turning point in the history of the Viry-Châtillon site, which will ensure the continuity of a savoir-faire and the inclusion of its rare skills in the group’s ambitious future while strengthening Alpine’s position as an ‘innovation garage’.
“Its racing DNA remains a cornerstone of the brand. It will continue to fuel an unprecedented industrial and automotive project.”
No jobs are expected to be lost as the factory restructures.