Foryster wrote: ↑18 Jun 2024, 09:35
PapayaFan481 wrote: ↑17 Jun 2024, 20:27
Why don't they just call up Andretti and sell the team. They're clearly not serious about F1.
Because they need the team as marketing banner for the Alpine brand. Simple as it is.
Team is now financially independent - visibility of the brand globally is there - you would need to spend millions on commercials to get this effect. And you have it for free (ok - for the cost of Viry).
I think you would easily spend all the money from selling within at least 2 years, still having less commercial effect.
And the brand will grow. Now electric hothatch - just started. Then SUV. And special versions of Renault cars.
Same here.
ALPINE brand name will stay in F1, they already sold 24%, budget cap allow them to be here with not many money involved.
Then the engine costs money, it seems that they are already not top notch for 2026, so using VIRY for WEC (where they have much more chance to win) is not a bad idea.
Then Alpine will be in F1 with a engine from another manufacturer. Like McLaren is. I don't see any issue here, I prefer them to have a good Mercedes engine, build all the others parts (including gearbox) and be competitive and stay in F1 rather than the actual --- show
And indeed, the road cars will now be 100% EV, so it makes sense in that case as well