Renault F1 engine axe decision not final yet

Sep.5 (GMM) Renault CEO Luca de Meo insists a closing choice in regards to the destiny of the French carmaker’s works Formulation 1 engine program is but to be taken.

At Monza final weekend, scores of upset and putting workers of the F1 engine manufacturing unit in Viry-Chatillon staged a peaceable protest from the grandstands.

They imagine the choice to scrap Renault’s F1 engine program, and as an alternative equip the Alpine group with buyer Mercedes engines from 2026, has already been taken – with solely unions and labour legal guidelines stopping it from being made official.

However Renault CEO de Meo, who in accordance with Alpine group advisor Flavio Briatore is behind the preliminary engine choice, insists: “No choice has been made but.”

Nevertheless, he doesn’t deny that it’s a really actual risk.

“We have now 4 or 5 weeks to find out the subsequent steps forward of the board assembly,” stated the Italian. “We’re evaluating all alternatives.”

De Meo admits that he finds the thought of switching to a aggressive buyer engine very interesting.

“If we take a look at this from a purely monetary standpoint – how costly it’s to develop an engine for 2026 your self, and the way a lot may you save with a buyer engine – then we’re speaking about an enormous distinction,” he stated.

“Those that take a look at the numbers see that we may enter the brand new period of Formulation 1 with a extra highly effective however cheaper package deal. However there are lots of elements to think about when making a call.

“What does the advertising division take into consideration this? What unfavourable penalties, together with monetary ones, may there be within the occasion of this transfer?

“Our ambition is to create a aggressive venture. Due to this fact, when selecting, we take into consideration many elements, and we do that with particular care.”

De Meo additionally reassured the 350 or so employees at Viry-Chatillon that the manufacturing unit might be utterly transformed from F1 engines to future-looking Renault applied sciences.

“We have already got very succesful and educated people who aren’t solely engaged on the Formulation 1 venture,” he stated. “We have now launched important revolutionary tasks, not solely in motorsports.”