Renault has confirmed that its energy unit operation will stop on the finish of the present set of rules, with the Alpine Method 1 crew to turn out to be a buyer entry.
The intention to show Alpine right into a buyer crew was made public earlier this yr, and Renault mentioned on the time that it was coming into a interval of session because it explored totally different choices for the Viry-Chatillon facility that has made F1 engines for almost all of the previous 50 years. Workers 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 rules, however it has now been confirmed that 2025 would be the final yr of Renault energy items.
As a replacement at Viry-Chatillon, Renault has introduced it is going to create a high-tech engineering middle referred to as Hypertech Alpine that may start operations later this yr and “contribute to the event of ultra-high-performance autos and improvements in cutting-edge applied sciences, for Alpine and Renault Group”. The adjustments to the positioning will lead to assets which can be presently allotted to the F1 energy unit division being redistributed elsewhere.
The initiatives that might 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 needs to maintain a type of connection as an observer to be taught from the game’s future applied sciences by an ‘F1 monitoring unit’ that might be established.
“Because of the session course of with the worker representatives, throughout which discussions had been constructive and an unbiased evaluation was performed, Alpine’s administration confirms its undertaking to remodel the positioning into a middle of engineering and high-tech excellence by late 2024,” an Alpine assertion learn. “Method 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 might 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 firstly of the brand new rules.
