Renault chief govt Luca de Meo has stated their “household jewel” Alpine Components 1 staff shouldn’t be on the market after the corporate confirmed its engine manufacturing will finish after subsequent season for monetary causes.

In an interview with L’Equipe, the Italian defended the technique of Alpine racing from 2026 with an influence unit supplied by one other producer, most certainly Mercedes.

The transfer, introduced this week, will finish almost half a century of Renault engines in F1, with the French producer powering Williams, Benetton, their very own staff and Pink Bull to 12 constructors’ titles.

De Meo stated Renault had been spending €200-250 million ($220.5-275.7m) a yr on engine manufacturing on the Viry-Chatillon facility exterior Paris, whereas shopping for an engine from one other producer would value lower than $20m.

He added that Renault was at an obstacle to different groups in having chassis and engine factories in separate nations, with the staff based mostly at Enstone in central England.

“At Enstone they’re very unbiased, used to working underneath totally different colors. I ought to have re-grouped every thing however it will have been in England. Exhausting, no?,” De Meo stated.

De Meo stated former Renault staff boss Flavio Briatore had been introduced in to revitalise the F1 undertaking, not oversee a change of possession.

“I learn that he was tasked with packaging the undertaking to finally promote the staff. It is utterly false,” he stated.

“Each fortnight I get calls from financiers, eccentrics, who need to enter F1. They know that after 2026 it is going to be way more costly.

“I will not promote, I am not silly. Being in F1 is important for the Alpine model. We’re in a closed membership. It brings credibility for the model amongst motor racing followers. We do not want the cash.”

De Meo stated most followers centered on the staff and drivers fairly than the engine, citing championship leaders McLaren who’re profitable and attracting sponsors whereas utilizing a Mercedes energy unit.

Alpine, whose buyers embody Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds and NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, had develop into “invisible” — ninth of 10 groups, with vanishing advertising advantages, De Meo stated.

“Two extra years like that and the undertaking would have deflated utterly,” De Meo stated.