24 consecutive years of Renault engines in Formula 1 are about to be interrupted. Although it is not yet official, Alpine is no longer hiding the fact that it will stop using Renault engines as soon as possible, preferably to move to Mercedes. A decision that will put an end to the history of a legendary brand like Renault in Formula 1.
According to Alpine, they had no choice. The new budget limit and the sales price cap set by Formula 1combined with the peculiar economic distribution of profits, make being a customer much more profitable than developing your own engine. But it can put an end to the variety in the world championship.
Alpine will stop using Renault engines because the numbers don’t add up
From 1977 to the present, Renault engines have been present in 44 of the 48 seasons that have been contested. But, despite having signed the agreement to embark on the new technical regulations, it seems that from 2026 onwards Renault to end its engine projectAnd the blame lies with the peculiar economic management of Formula 1.
“Nowadays It doesn’t pay to make your own engine“Because the entire profit pool is shared between the teams,” explains Bruno Famin in his last interview as head of the Alpine team. The Frenchman will take a step back in the ranks, return to the factory and from now on his place will be taken by Oliver Oakes.
The FIA has set a budget limit of 120 million euros for engine manufacturers, but at the same time there is an maximum selling price of those engines of 12 millionIf the profits are shared equally between the teams, without benefiting the drivers, it is clear that it does not pay to make your own engine.
“The distribution benefits only the teams,” laments Famin, who sees how Alpine, which makes its own engine, systematically falls behind teams like McLaren, Red Bull o Aston Martinwho simply buy engines, save a fortune and maximize profits. “You spend 120 million and earn 17,” Famin concludes.
The former Alpine boss also laments that when Honda decided to leave Formula 1, pressure from Red Bull forced them to freeze their engines for almost five years, leaving Renault far behind. “Our current engine is about 20 hp behind and we can’t do anything about it.” Since Red Bull could not improve, everyone else was prohibited from improving.and Red Bull has thanked them with four consecutive world championships won at ease.
We’ll see if The strange financial dealings of Formula 1 They do not push more brands to take the easy route and make the World Championship almost a single brand event.
Source: www.motorpasion.com
