Renault to end F1 engine programme after 2025

Renault has announced it will end its Formula 1 engine program after the 2025 season, marking a significant shift for the French automaker. As a result, its Alpine F1 team will need to source engines from another manufacturer, likely Mercedes, starting in 2026.

Renault’s F1 engine facility in Viry-Chatillon, Paris, will pivot to focus on developing electric motor and battery technologies, alongside its remaining motorsport ventures. This move concludes nearly 50 years of Renault's history in F1, which began in 1977 with the introduction of the sport's first turbocharged engine. Over the decades, Renault has earned 10 constructors' titles and nine drivers' championships, powering legends like Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, and Sebastian Vettel.

The decision follows a decade of underwhelming performance in F1 since the shift to hybrid power units in 2014. Renault's Alpine team, after some success in 2020 and 2021, has struggled recently, currently ranked ninth in the 2024 season standings.

While Renault's statement barely acknowledged the engine program’s end, it confirmed F1 activities at Viry would continue until the end of 2025. The company also revealed plans for a new division, Alpine Hypertech, to preserve employee expertise and focus on innovation for its motorsport projects, including the World Endurance Championship, Formula E, and rally-raid events.

Source : BBC News