Team principals claim that it would be sad to lose an engine manufacturer after talks about Alpine
Should French manufacturer Renault leave Formula One as an engine supplier from the 2026 F1 season, it would be a loss to the sport, claim rival team bosses.
It has recently emerged that Alpine is considering abandoning its works Renault engine in Formula 1 from 2026 and has opened talks with rival manufacturers about a possible partnership.
Several possibilities have been mentioned with Ferrari and Mercedes having been considered as priority for the French outfit. However,thos talks have now become focused with one provider – Mercedes.
Recently, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said that the Brixworth-based factory would be open to supplying another team in 2026 as a replacement for Aston Martin, who will run Honda power.
Asked about the possibility of losing an engine manufacturer, rival team bosses said that it would certainly a loss. Visa Cash RB team boss Laurent Mekies insists while it is a sad to lose an engine manufacturer, the sport should be happy that Audi will join the fray in two years' time.
"I think it's always a bad news when you lose an OEM. 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," noted Mekies.
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur, who spent two years at the helm of the Renault F1 team, commented. "I'm more focused on the people of Renault.
"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.
Kick Sauber team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi insists that Audi's commitment shows that the new engine regulations that are set to come into effect in 2026 are "attractive".
"I fully agree with Fred, because I think in this moment that is, of course, critical, and I think we can share this feeling with Bruno, people are important and we need to be focused on them.
"Then for me, what I think is also maybe something to understand, 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.
"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.
"So I think that is something different from the decision from Renault. And I think as a Formula 1, we need to be clear on this, you know. Sometimes it can happen. But now, as Fred said, is important the people. And I hope that the project that Bruno is developing will go forward because Bruno himself and the people at Viry-Châtillon that I also know personally deserve.
