Renault Exits Formula 1 Engine Program After 2025

Renault announced it will discontinue its Formula 1 engine program after the 2025 season, marking the end of nearly 50 years in the sport. Following this decision, the Alpine team will need to source engines from another manufacturer, likely Mercedes starting in 2026. The company will shift the focus of its F1 engine facility in Viry-Chatillon, Paris to developing electric motors and battery technologies along with continuing other motorsport activities.

Renault made its debut in Formula 1 in 1977 with the first turbocharged engine and since then, it has become one of the most successful engine suppliers in the sport securing ten constructors’ titles and nine drivers’ championships. Renowned drivers like Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso won titles with Renault-powered teams. The Renault team itself achieved double championships in 2005 and 2006 with Alonso.

The decision to exit F1 comes after a decade of limited success, particularly since the introduction of hybrid power units in 2014. Although Alpine secured victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix and finished fourth in the world championships in 2020 and 2022, they dropped to sixth last year and currently sit ninth out of ten teams in 2024 with six races left.

Despite employee protests at the Italian Grand Prix and discussions with CEO Luca de Meo, the company anticipated the decision to end the engine program for some time. Renault plans to establish an “F1 monitoring unit” to retain knowledge and skills within the organization as it transitions to new projects under the Alpine Hypertech structure.

The Alpine F1 team remains focused on the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, aiming for strong on-track performance in the remaining races.