American Grand Prix Formula 1 2024: the reasons why Renault engines ended in Formula 1: “we became invisible”

SThe four that are given after Renault announces the completion of the Formula 1 engine project at Ferre Stellone (Those who equip the Alpine team on their own and who should be followed in 2025) general manager, Luca di Meo, the main reasons have broken To make such a radical and historic decision.

In an interview in ‘Le Cape’, DiMeo arrived at the brand in 2020 and Artevis signs in his DA from Fernando Alonso (As well as his departure) is aware of the enormous emotional impact on the employees of the plant, but the financial arguments are overwhelming.

“This The decision is heartbreaking. I am very emotional , but this is the result Months and months of discussions”, According to the 57-year-old Italian President.

“I admire the commitment and perseverance of the people of verrechtillon. They have courage. And this is good news, ” he says By introduction, but there has been a drift lately. “In Formula 1, we became invisible. Two more years, and the project was on the verge of complete collapse. We have been in Pending Descending For three seasons. We had to shake it all up,” he argues.

Alonso and then, nothing

In fact, In the first year of Fernando Alonso, after returning to Instone , in 2021, Albin achieved the victory of UConn in Hungary, Fernando received 90% of the credit for holding Hamilton for 15 laps, which prevented him from chasing his teammate. As he saw andThe Asturian podium in Qatar, at the end of the year, The situation in which he accompanies Verstappen And Hamilton They were playing for the title and without any kind of help or setback in their favor.

In 2022, the lack of real investment and the shift towards ground-effect vehicles left the Alps off the hook To be able to fight for podium positions, although Fernando was close at times. The lack of reliability was the Achilles heel of that car. Alonso saw that he was dripping The Renovation And on August 1 I decided to accept Lawrence Stroll’s offer (Monday after the hongra race) to look for an ambitious and growing project and not one in flagrant decline.

In sports , they went from having One of the most punctured cars by perception in the retransmission, in the case of ’14’, To pass Unnoticed by anyone During Full races in 2023. As if they were invisible, which, of course, potential sponsors take into account.

About 400 million of expenses every year

In the same interview, DiMeo highlights the company’s financial effort, stating that ” Costs From the production of power units in Formula 1 It is 200-250 million per year (in dollars), plus an operating budget of 150 million”, Recognition.

“Because we qualified for the championship, we lose the Formula 1 bonuses (for the points we won). Sponsors are rare and we have a hole in our pockets. My shareholders know how to count and Alpine has to make money. With our posts, 16 and 17, we look like jokers”, He says sarcastically about the situation.

At the moment when the McLaren decided to leave Renault and return to Mercedes as a supplier (in 2021) Seeing that the defenses of the Diamond had dragged some 30 horsepower of difficulty compared to the Ferrari star Yu Honda, The future of the ferry plant was really affected.

But The decision not to offer Alonso a renewal is clear that 2022 definitely sealed the change of course, Towards a small team, with Okun and Gasly, two drivers with little charisma for the fans, without big aspirations in the world championship, but also without big expenses. Now To spend the investment of 400 million of the engine plant Mercedes will pay about four million per used unit in 2026, which will be about four per car per season, plus an additional two million for gearboxes. That means, About 20 million for the whole season. The difference is obvious.

Renault theoretically continues with the exclusive F2 and F3 powertrain, This is in this case without providing them with a good income and this makes it profitable to continue in a competitive factory, but in a more modest way.