Renault axe declared a 'statement of intent' ahead of new F1 era

Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes has outlined Renault's decision to withdraw from F1 was a “statement of intent”.

It was announced at the end of September that Renault would no longer build power units beyond the 2025 F1 campaign.

For the new cycle of technical regulations that commences in 2026, Alpine will become a customer team powered by Mercedes.

Renault's F1 power units have largely lacked pace compared to other manufacturers during the sport's turbo-hybrid era, whilst the team's on-track results have also failed to gain momentum in recent seasons.

“I know it was a difficult decision,” Oakes said of the F1 engine axe, speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast. 

“I know there's a lot of emotion there because we are proud to be a works team and we still have a year all together next year, but I do feel that was also a big statement of intent of where we want to go. 

"We're not here just to be making up the numbers. We want to be pushing forward. I just want the best engine in the back of the car. At the end of the day, for me, we're here to go racing. 

"I want to be at the front of the grid. I don't want to be walking to the back. And cruelly, the choice we made was to get the best engine in the back of the car and help the team keep climbing back up the grid."

Alpine held talks with other F1 manufacturers

The decision to drop its engine project was set in motion long before Oakes came on board as team principal four months ago.

With Aston Martin dropping Mercedes power units in favour of Honda for 2026, it effectively opened up a spot for Alpine to claim.

Oakes has confirmed, however, that discussions also took place with other manufacturers.

“I think they did have some other discussions,” he said. “I'm not sure exactly who with.

“But I think very early, it was quite clear that, at the moment, from a customer powertrain point of view, Mercedes was the obvious choice.

“Simply as well, because Aston Martin was moving to Honda already, so there was almost a free spot there.”