One of the most important components of an F1 car is its engine. The current era, which started in 2014, has been dominated by Mercedes power units. The German manufacturer is known for its cutting-edge, efficient engines. This is the reason why other teams are always open to becoming customers. One such name in recent times has been Alpine. The team Enstone has officially announced the termination of its power unit production.
The Alpine team, powered by Renault, made its F1 debut in 2021. Since then, it has been a mid-tier team, often surprising the front runners. However, the team’s biggest challenge has been competing against PU giants like Mercedes and Honda. This is also the reason why the BWT Alpine has just one race win under its name. Therefore, the team decided to become an engine customer from 2026 onward to improve its performance.
Alpine Ready To Become Customer Team From 2026 After Viry Shutdown
The name Renault echoed for the first time in the F1 paddock during the 1977 season. The French car manufacturer introduced turbo engines to motorsport. Further, the team has won five Divers Cups and six Cinstructor’s Crowns. However, the team kept changing its name, the most recent being Alpine, its sports car franchise. Sadly, after almost half a century, Renault would no longer be a part of the F1 scene, as the Alpine officially announced its power unit production shutdown. Moreover, the engine-focused division of Alpine’s factory, situated in Viry-Chatillon, will be transformed into an engineering center to aid its future car production.
The official statement read, “Formula 1 activities at Viry, excluding the development of a new engine, will continue until the end of the 2025 season.” The facility would also be used to develop a future Alpine supercar. Further, Viry would continue to be a production hub for Renault’s other motorsport endeavors, like the World Endurance Championship Formula E and Rally Raid efforts. Although Renault is ready to leave F1, it will establish an F1 monitoring unit to improve employees’ knowledge and skills, which could be used in other domains. One of the biggest concerns after this announcement was about the future of the Viry staff. However, the team has assured everyone of a job opportunity.
The Alpine CEO Phillippe Krief acknowledged this concern by claiming the Alpine Hypertech center to be a broader development strategy. He affirmed this move to be a game-changer for the Viry-Chatillon site, ensuring the inclusion of every team member. He ultimately confirmed the team will continue to develop cutting-edge technology fueling the automotive projects.
The Viry Protests: Uncertain Staff Rally Against Alpine’s Decision
The confirmation of the PU production shutdown came after much commotion, as the employees believed the entire facility was being closed. Thus, the staff members started a protest against the unjust move and were unhappy with the decision.
The team members wanted to be part of the 2026 F1 plan, but their lack of competitiveness was the reason behind this sudden change. The new advisor, Flavio Briatore, also believed being a customer team was better than relying on inefficient engines. The team is still discussing with Mercedes, as an official confirmation awaits.