Alpine's F1 Engine Program Uncertainty: Briatore Clarifies His Role

---

Renault's Engine Project Under Review

Alpine's F1 advisor clarifies that the decision to potentially terminate Renault's engine project was not initiated by Briatore, who emphasizes he is not to be blamed for the plan to end the Formula 1 engine programme.

Renault CEO Luca de Meo is reviewing the future of the Alpine F1 team and is prepared to discontinue the works power unit program in favor of using Mercedes customer engines starting in 2026.

A final decision is expected to be announced on 30 September, when employees at Renault's Viry-Chatillon facility near Paris will learn about the company's future direction.

Alpine is likely to transition to Mercedes engines, thereby bringing an end to Renault's works involvement that originated in 1977.

Last week, Renault's engine staff representatives at Viry released a statement urging de Meo to reconsider the decision to terminate the engine project. They claim that this decision was prompted by a reduction in costs from $120 million for development to $17 million per year under a supply agreement.

“We do not understand what justifies killing this elite entity that is the Viry-Chatillon site and betraying its legend and its DNA by grafting a Mercedes heart into our F1 Alpine [car],”

The Social and Economic Council of Alpine employees composed the text.

Although Briatore is actively participating in implementing necessary changes at Alpine to improve its position in F1, he has emphasized that the decision regarding the engine was not initiated by him.

When questioned about his reluctance to allow Viry the opportunity to demonstrate its capabilities, he explained: “The issue lies in the evidence."

“Regarding the engine, it was decided already from the management, and for me it is fine.

“Whatever our chairman decides, fine. This was decided already, soon before I arrived in the team.”

Briatore emphasized that the decision to change the engine was not his idea, stating:“No, I am not the bad guy all the time….everything else you [can] blame me. Not this one.”

Briatore is unafraid to implement necessary changes at Alpine to reverse a recent decline in performance.

He has suggested that one issue affecting their form is the excessive involvement of people in decision-making, hindering progress.

While this may lead to a potential reduction in the Enstone operation, Briatore clarifies that it is not a definite course of action.

When questioned if his remarks implied job cuts, Briatore responded: “I don't know. At Enstone I don't know if we have too many people or not. Let me check.

“We don't want to cut any jobs. We want to just have an efficiency. The people who want to stay with us, they are welcome to stay. But we need everybody in the same line.

“We want to have people with the experience, the people working together as an F1 team. After that, we don't want to fire anybody.”

Briatore has rejected any insinuation that the modifications he is implementing at Enstone, particularly the severing of connections with Renault's engine program, are aimed at readying the F1 team for a sale.

“No, there is nothing for sale,” He mentioned.. “Everything, we buy. If we had the opportunity, we [would] buy another one [team] and I put a managing director in.

“Something is very clear. Luca de Meo never wants to sell the team. Question finito.”