Renault set to quit F1 as power unit supplier

Bruno Famin has hinted that Renault will cease production of its F1 power unit from 2026, as his own departure from Alpine has been announced.

Renault currently only supplies its in-house Alpine team with power units since McLaren re-joined Mercedes for 2021, with the French manufacturer struggling throughout the turbo hybrid era to produce a consistent product. 

RacingNews365 reported in June that senior management was looking at potentially shelving the operation at Viry in light of the complex nature of the 2026 power units, which will feature beefed-up electrical systems.

It is understood that Alpine and advisor Flavio Briatore are now siding towards signing a deal with Mercedes for a customer supply of power units from 2026.

Speaking at the Belgian GP, where his own departure from the team principal role was announced, Famin has detailed the processes going in at Viry to potentially wind down the production of F1 power units.

"We have presented a project, and the project is not the power unit," Famin told media including RacingNews365.

"The project is much bigger than that, it is a transformation project of the Alpine brand, and the engine brand is developing with seven new models with high-end technology. 

"There are ambitious plans to build this new sporting brand to make it known outside of France, everywhere in the world. 

"The project which has been presented at the beginning of the week to staff representatives in Viry is to reallocate the resources from the development of the Formula 1 power unit to dedicate those resources to developing new technologies for the brand. 

"One consequence of this project, if it is accepted, is for the Alpine F1 Team to buy a power unit instead of developing its own, we would have more resources to develop the brand and to race with a different power unit for the Formula 1 team."

"The project which has been presented to the staff representatives in two different bodies at Viry is from 2026 onwards. 

"We are talking to a few manufacturers and for the time being, nothing is done because it is a project.

"We have to follow French union [law], there are social processes that are strict to follow and we cannot take any decisions until we have reached the end of that process. 

"For the time being, we are talking to some manufacturers, but we cannot sign anything until this process is over."

Famin's own exit

Famin was appointed to the role of team principal 12 months ago at the Belgian GP when Otmar Szafnauer left his position, the Frenchman taking it on for an interim basis. 

With no other candidates viable, Famin stayed on at the start of the 2024 season, but will be scaling back his involvement to focus squarely on Viry's transition, as he also addressed his relationship with Briatore. 

"For the last year, I have been doubling my activities with the VP motorsport role, where I am managing Viry and other projects, like Dakar," Famin said. 

"On top of that, I have been acting as the managing director of the Alpine F1 team, and I think it will be much more useful for the company for me to dedicate my time to the Viry and all other motorsport activities and to the [power unit] transformation project, if it is confirmed. 

"There is absolutely no issue with Flavio from the little time we have spent together, everybody knows him, he has his own way. 

"He has his own goals, but I have no problem, but I think it would be clearer if I stepped down from the team principal role. 

"I will step down by the end of August to be fully dedicated to the Viry activities from September 1st."