RB boss Laurent Mekies expressed his displeasure with Alpine’s plans to withdraw as a Formula 1 power unit manufacturer, stating that it’s “bad news” for the series.
Outgoing Team Principal Bruno Famin revealed in Belgium last month that Alpine intends to shut down its F1 power unit operation at Viry-Chatillon, France.
The Anglo-French marque intends to refocus its efforts on the Alpine car brand and has begun talks with Mercedes over a technical partnership in F1.
This means in 2026 there will only be five OEMs as opposed to the original six (Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, Audi and Red Bull) and Mekies believes this to be a negative development for the sport.
“I think it’s always a bad news when you lose an OEM,” he said.
“And of course, from what Bruno is saying, the OEM will stay as a team, but obviously, one of the big targets of these new regulations in 2026 was to attract more OEMs.
“So ultimately, if it goes as Bruno said, it means that we’ll get plus one with Audi and minus one with Alpine. So I don’t think it’s a good news.
“However, it comes, luckily, at a time where there is many manufacturers in Formula 1. So I would say that the sport can well afford this change. But it’s never a good news when we lose a PU manufacturer.”
Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Team Representative at Sauber, stressed that the decision made by Alpine and the wider Renault Group isn’t directly linked with Formula 1’s incoming 2026 power unit regulations shake-up, which has paved the way for Audi to buy its way into the sport via the Sauber takeover.
“It seems that this is a decision that is not linked, of course, to the new PU regulation or to the trajectory that Formula 1 is taking towards 2026,” Bravi said.
“I think that the PU regulations are very attractive for new manufacturers and of course Audi is the perfect example that thanks to this new regulation there is an interest from the automotive, you know, to be in Formula 1 because it’s the pillar of the technology and the best, you know, testing bench for the future mobility technical solutions.”
Red Bull Team Principal Chrisitan Horner is well-versed in Viry’s production, which helped power his team’s first four world titles from 2010 through to 2013, before the relationship became strained during F1’s hybrid era.
Horner said it’s “always sad to see an engine manufacturer go. Viry has been involved in Formula 1 for many, many years. I understand they have other projects that they are involved in.
“They supplied engines to us for many years, so we know quite a lot of the people there and wish them well for the future.”
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur also spared a thought for the hard-working staff at Viry, with whom he has personal experience.
“I’m more focused on the people of Renault,” he said.
“I know very well the company that I spent years with them. I started my career in 1992 with Renault and I’m profoundly attached to Renault and I think it’s a shame.”
Still, given the heavy union presence among French workforces, Alpine will need to gain approval from its Viry staff before pressing on with its F1 shakeup.
