This is a historic, sad, and long-expected moment: Renault is to end its Formula 1 engine program after almost half a century in the sport.
It first entered F1 in 1977 with a new-fangled turbocharged engine, and for a handful of years, it has been a constant presence on the grid ever since.
Williams was the first team to win the constructors’ championship with Renault power in 1992, kickstarting a run of six straight titles. Two more distinct eras of success followed: as a works team between 2005 and 2006, and as a supplier to Red Bull between 2010 and 2013.
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Its total of 12 championships puts it second on the all-time list, behind Ferrari’s haul of 16.
Meanwhile, seven drivers have won the world title with Renault power: Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Fernando Alonso, and Sebastian Vettel.
Despite that glittering trophy cabinet, Renault’s engine operation has fallen behind the competition over the last decade—since the introduction of F1’s turbo-hybrid rules: It is widely thought to have the least powerful engine on the grid. The works team, which was rebranded as Alpine in 2021, fell from finishing fourth that same year to ninth in 2024, with half a dozen races left.
With a new generation of hybrid engine regulations due in 2026, Renault CEO Luca de Meo has evidently decided that the team will be in better shape (and hundreds of millions better off) if it buys its engines rather than makes its own. Reports suggest that a supply deal with Mercedes is already in the works, while Renault has confirmed that development of its own powertrain will wind up at the end of 2025.
The engine department at Viry-Chatillon will be transformed into the new Alpine Hypertech division, which is set to work on the group’s World Endurance Championship, Formula E, and Dakar programs. Cutting-edge battery tech and an Alpine supercar are also in the works.
NOTE: This story first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
