Renault Staff to Strike Over F1 Engine Program End

Renault motorsport employees will strike on Friday to protest the company’s plan to end its Formula 1 engine program after next year. A staff committee from Renault’s motorsport base in Viry-Chatillon near Paris, announced that most employees will refuse to work. Some employees will also demonstrate at the Italian Grand Prix. Renault, which owns the Alpine team, launched its F1 engine program in 1977 and pioneered turbo engines.

The company has achieved notable success, including championships with Williams, Benetton and Red Bull. However, Renault plans to abandon its F1 engine project by 2026 and switch to buying engines from Mercedes for Alpine. The company will reassign employees at Viry-Chatillon to other motorsport projects. The decision to end the F1 engine program stems from cost-saving measures. Renault’s engine is also the least competitive on the grid.

Renault has struggled to keep pace since the introduction of hybrid engines in 2014. Alpine has stated that it values dialogue with its staff and will continue discussions over the coming weeks but it has not finalized its decision. The staff committee criticized the potential loss of nearly 50 years of F1 engine history and 12 world championship titles, arguing that it threatens the international reputation of French industrial excellence.

They expressed confidence in the progress on the new engine rules for 2026 which will significantly increase the hybrid power component. The strike will last six hours, starting at 09:00 local time, and will be accompanied by a demonstration at Monza. Employees will display a banner advocating for a French engine in F1. Trackside employees at Alpine will show support by wearing black armbands, though track operations will continue as usual.