Renault has confirmed that its energy unit operation will stop on the finish of the present set of rules, with the Alpine Method 1 workforce to change into a buyer entry.
The intention to show Alpine right into a buyer workforce was made public earlier this yr, and Renault mentioned on the time that it was getting into a interval of session because it explored completely 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.
Instead at Viry-Chatillon, Renault has introduced it should create a high-tech engineering heart known as Hypertech Alpine that can start operations later this yr and “contribute to the event of ultra-high-performance automobiles and improvements in cutting-edge applied sciences, for Alpine and Renault Group”. The adjustments to the location will lead to assets which might be at the moment allotted to the F1 energy unit division being redistributed elsewhere.
The tasks that shall be developed at Viry embody a future Alpine supercar, battery and new electrical motor applied sciences, and the World Endurance Championship (WEC) program, together with buyer motorsports exterior 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 way of an ‘F1 monitoring unit’ that shall be established.
“On account of the session course of with the worker representatives, throughout which discussions have been constructive and an impartial evaluation was carried out, Alpine’s administration confirms its mission to rework the location 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 top of the 2025 season.
“Every worker affected by this transformation mission shall 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 initially of the brand new rules.
