Renault urged to 'stop the bleeding' after '10 years of mismanagement'

Renault has been accused of "10 years of mismanagement" and called on "to stop the bleeding" in the wake of its decision to pull the plug on its F1 powertrains programme.

The allegation has been made by Bruno Mauduit, who was responsible for the development and operation of Renault F1 engines between 1981 and 1999. Mauduit is disgusted by the company's decision to stop powering the Alpine F1 team. 

Alpine will become a customer outfit, with Mercedes the hot favourite to supply the French outfit with power units. 

Despite the disappointment, Renault's F1 departure does not surprise Mauduit, who blames the team's poor results and management over the years for why the exit is happening.

“I expected it 99%," Mauduit told L'Equipe. "It was decided since August. It’s a shame and sad, for the whole history of Viry. This decision is not surprising, it is the result of ten years of mismanagement, satisfaction with poor results and the fact of having only one team. 

"And today, we have no argument to continue. We are told that the 2026 engine is great? We have to see, we can’t put that forward as an argument to continue. What has been done in recent years is not enough. And everyone is at fault.

"The only thing that speaks is the results, and when you don't have any, it's difficult. It's getting worse and worse. I wasn't very happy one or two years ago, but now it's agony. We have to stop the bleeding. This closure is dramatic and sad.

"But we should have had other teams to benchmark against. We should have provoked more instead of waiting and being satisfied with the poor results obtained. People should have rebelled internally. I hope they keep this place, and then things can change very quickly in the world of motorsport. But the foundation is still pretty damaged.

"I have so many memories from my time there. Happy ones and sad ones. It's all one. A succession of good times, every day, whether we were on the track or in Viry. We were all pulling in the same direction, it was so easy to work together. 

"We had the daily satisfaction of knowing that tonight, we would be stronger than the night before. That's what was strong, it was a joy. It has disintegrated over time. When I went there two years ago, I told them as I left 'you broke the toy'."

Renault accused of being 'cheap'

It is not just Mauduit who is disappointed by Renault's decision. Denis Chevrier, former director of the Renault F1 engine department, has concurred. 

Chevrier, who held the role from 2002-2007, has accused the company of trying to be "cheap", so impacting performance. 

Chevrier pinpoints the transition to hybrid engines as when the struggles started, with the manufacturer not wanting to put significant money behind engine development.

"Alpine wants to make F1 cheap, that's what they've always wanted to do," said Chevrier. "That's why they didn't succeed in the transition to hybrid engines, unlike other competitors. They found themselves behind, it was the beginning of a period where Viry's engines struggled to shine. 

"It's the unfortunate demonstration that if you don't want to put in the resources, after a while, you can't live on the past, on the momentum that's been established, and little by little the ship loses its speed. 

"There was a period of success, and the managers wanted to do as well for less money, but in such a cutting-edge environment of technological excellence, it's not possible."

Chevrier does not think the engine is purely to blame, though, as he has also pointed a finger towards Alpine's other base in Enstone where the chassis department is situated. 

He feels the Enstone team failed to design a quality car and opted to blame the engine department in Viry for the F1 outfit's poor performances. 

"I have a feeling of injustice," Chevrier added. "I think that the engine is the victim of a cabal on the part of the chassis team, which hid its shortcomings and its inability to design cars as good as the others by finding a person responsible. And by regularly sowing and watering the denigration of this engine. 

"It was all the easier because this engine did not equip other chassis, which is very dangerous for an engine manufacturer. And they continue to have fun with their wings... No doubt this engine is not the best on the grid, but the decision taken is the opposite of that which a boss who aims for excellence within his company should take. 

"Whereas, in a motorsport, if there is one element on which a manufacturer must rely the most to communicate and promote its road models, it is the engine."