The Renault engine has been part of F1 for about fifty years. Unfortunately, it will no longer be on the grid after 2025.
It’s the end of an era in Formula 1. After nearly half a century of presence, the Renault engine will leave F1 circuits at the end of the 2025 season. Alpine, the French team that inherited the manufacturer’s legacy, will switch to a Mercedes power unit starting in 2026.
A painful beginning for the team
When Renault made its F1 debut in 1977, the start was disastrous. Engine failures, constant retirements, and ridicule from the British, who nicknamed the RS01 “The Yellow Teapot.” Yet the French brand persisted and bet on a bold innovation, which is the turbocharged engine.
The first triumphs of the Renault engine in F1
The turbo concept developed at Viry-Châtillon by Bernard Dudot would soon revolutionize the sport. After two difficult years, Renault finally claimed its first win at the 1979 French Grand Prix with Jean-Pierre Jabouille. That victory marked the dawn of a new technological era and cemented the Renault engine’s place in F1 history.
From struggle to recognition
In the 1980s, Renault came close to a world title but fell short. Alain Prost narrowly missed out to Nelson Piquet in 1983. Still, the manufacturer’s reputation grew, built on innovation, daring, and reliability. By the decade’s end, Renault shifted focus to supplying engines for other teams, a move that would pay off afterward.
The golden age of Renault engine in F1
Partnering with Williams and Benetton in the early 1990s, Renault launched one of F1’s greatest dynasties. The V10 engine designed at Viry-Châtillon delivered both power and consistency. This then drove the sport’s most dominant teams to glory.
Years of absolute domination
Between 1992 and 1997, Renault secured six Constructors’ Championships. The team also got five Drivers’ titles with legends like Mansell, Prost, Hill, Schumacher, and Villeneuve. It was the golden age of French engineering in F1, and they celebrated every victory as a national triumph.
From Crashgate to Red Bull glory
Renault withdrew from F1 in 1997, only to return as a full constructor and win again with Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006. The 2008 “Crashgate” scandal later tarnished its image, but as an engine supplier, Renault bounced back with Red Bull Racing. Between 2010 and 2013, Sebastian Vettel claimed four straight world titles with Renault power. That was actually the brand’s final major triumph.
A slow decline and inevitable end
Since relaunching its works team in 2015, Renault has struggled to regain its past glory. The hybrid era exposed both underinvestment and poor internal management. Rebranded as Alpine in 2021, the team has gradually slipped to the back of the grid.
The Mercedes switch and Renault’s farewell
Starting in 2026, Alpine will abandon Renault engines in favor of Mercedes power units. That is a radical but cost-effective choice which, according to french newspaper Le Monde, would save roughly USD 165 million per year. Still, for many at Viry-Châtillon, it feels like a betrayal of the brand’s identity.
The end of a French identity in F1 with the Renault engine
“Running a Renault with a Mercedes engine makes no sense,” laments Bernard Dudot, one of the pioneers of Renault’s F1 adventure. Despite talk of maintaining a small tech hub, the story seems over. After fifty years of innovation, triumphs, and heartbreak, the Renault engine’s legendary roar will soon fall silent.