The countdown can start: Renault System 1 engines will contest simply 30 extra grands prix earlier than being consigned to historical past.
The third most profitable engine producer by wins in F1 historical past (together with its 9 triumphs branded as ‘TAG Heuer’ in 2016-18) has determined to not construct energy models for the championship’s new rules in 2026.
With this choice, Renault is swimming in opposition to the present: Audi will arrive as a full works workforce in 2026; Honda has carried out a U-turn on its 2021 exit and can return with Aston Martin; Ford can also be rejoining in an alliance with Crimson Bull. In the meantime, Ferrari and Mercedes are comfortable the place they’re.
Taken at face worth, Renault’s choice is an odd one. An enormous alternative exists for an engine producer to amass an untouchable efficiency benefit over their rivals in 2026.
The reminiscence of what Mercedes achieved from 2014 to 2016, when F1 final shook up its energy unit rules, continues to be contemporary. Out of 59 races they gained 51, dominating the championships by big margins.
Whereas Mercedes have been crushing the competitors, Renault’s works workforce Crimson Bull suffered a surprising reversal of fortunes following their 4 consecutive championship successes. On discovering how uncompetitive their energy models have been workforce principal Christian Horner, guide Helmut Marko and chief technical officer Adrian Newey headed to satisfy Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn in a useless effort to influence him to extend spending on their F1 effort.
Newey recalled with dismay that “Ghosn’s reply was ‘effectively, I’ve little interest in System 1, I’m solely in it as a result of my advertising individuals say I ought to be’.”
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Crimson Bull later discovered success once more with Honda, who Newey is keen to work with once more when he joins Aston Martin firstly of subsequent yr to start out work on their 2026 undertaking. “I’ll be very happy to remain working with Honda,” he stated. “I’ve actually loved working with them over the past six years at Crimson Bull. Nice bunch of engineers.”
Alpine is broadly rumoured to be looking for the Mercedes engine provide Aston Martin will relinquish on the finish of subsequent yr. Newey’s newest creation for Crimson Bull could be overwhelmed to the championship this yr by certainly one of Mercedes’ different prospects, McLaren.
However whereas buyer engines could also be aggressive in the mean time, Newey has little doubt that having a works energy unit might be important when F1’s new energy unit rules arrive.
Requested what Aston Martin must give attention to to make the very best of the chance it faces in 2026, Newey replied: “Any System 1 workforce’s the identical. They’ve three principal departments, which is aerodynamics, mechanical design and automobile efficiency, or automobile dynamics, it comes underneath these names. So it will likely be ensuring that we attempt to have synergy between these departments.
“And with Honda on the PU facet as a result of there’ll be an enormous – in all probability greater than ever – interplay between the PU and the chassis.”
In its press launch which overestimated the creation of its ‘Hypertech Alpine’ division and confirmed the scrapping of its F1 engine programme within the closing paragraphs, Renault didn’t a lot as handle the query of how its future vehicles might be powered. However when the rumours of Viry-Chatillon’s destiny first surfaced, Alpine’s workforce principal on the time claimed taking a buyer engine wouldn’t put them at too nice a drawback.
“There’s a little bit of potential in growing the combination, nevertheless it’s fairly theoretical on the finish of the story, as a result of now all of the PU producers are working very carefully, very early within the undertaking with the groups, and all of the integrations are extremely optimised,” stated Bruno Famin.
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“If we take a Ferrari or Mercedes engine, I’m fairly satisfied that every one the combination, all of the packaging might be already very, superb.”
Was he proper, or is Newey? It’s uncommon to listen to any F1 workforce boss admit, as Famin did, that they’re voluntarily sacrificing efficiency, nonetheless little. There isn’t a lot discuss of that at Aston Martin, as Lawrence Stroll pours cash into upgrading each side of their operation.
No marvel so many imagine right this moment’s announcement has much less to do with Alpine’s long-term potential, and as a substitute signifies Renault’s intention to promote up and full its withdrawal from F1.
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