Renault staff at Viry-Chatillon are feeling betrayed as the company shifts focus away from F1 engine production. Here’s the lowdown:
- Renault plans to withdraw from F1 engine manufacturing by 2026.
- Alpine team boss Bruno Famin confirms the shift during a press conference.
- Staff at the Viry-Chatillon factory are shocked by the sudden decision.
- Famin outlines a new ambitious project for the Alpine brand.
- Potential repercussions for Renault in F1 as the team may need a customer engine supply.
Renault has announced plans to stop producing Formula 1 engines by 2026, much to the dismay of its staff at the Viry-Chatillon factory. This decision has left many employees feeling betrayed.
Alpine team boss Bruno Famin confirmed the company’s shift in focus during a press conference before the Belgian Grand Prix. He revealed that he would be stepping down to lead a new initiative at Viry.
Famin explained that the project involves reallocating resources and skills from F1 engine development to new technology for Alpine’s upcoming models. He emphasized the ambition behind this transformation.
However, Famin’s announcement came as a shock to the employees, who had already been working on a power unit for the 2026 F1 season. Union rep Karine Dubreucq described it as “a stab in the back, a betrayal.”
Renault’s power units have a storied history in F1, with nearly five decades of participation and 12 Constructors’ Championships. Staff members couldn’t believe the company would completely abandon the program.
Despite the disappointment, work on the 2026 power unit continues, with performance targets being met or even exceeded. Some employees are hopeful it will match the Mercedes engine.
Nevertheless, tensions are high. Some staff have already taken sick leave, and there are concerns about the potential long-term impacts. A source warned that halting work could mean the end of Renault engines in F1 forever.
Famin tried to alleviate fears by ensuring that all employees would be offered new positions within the company. He assured that there would be no redundancies. However, uncertainty remains among the workforce.
Renault’s decision to shift focus away from F1 engine production has left its employees feeling betrayed and uncertain about the future.
Source: Planetf1
