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 items for the championship’s new laws in 2026.
With this resolution, Renault is swimming in opposition to the present: Audi will arrive as a full works crew 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 resolution is a wierd 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 laws, continues to be recent. Out of 59 races they received 51, dominating the championships by big margins.
Whereas Mercedes had been crushing the competitors, Renault’s works crew Crimson Bull suffered a surprising reversal of fortunes following their 4 consecutive championship successes. On discovering how uncompetitive their energy items had been crew principal Christian Horner, marketing consultant Helmut Marko and chief technical officer Adrian Newey headed to fulfill Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn in a useless effort to steer him to extend spending on their F1 effort.
Newey recalled with dismay that “Ghosn’s reply was ‘properly, I’ve little interest in System 1, I’m solely in it as a result of my advertising and marketing folks say I needs 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 in the beginning of subsequent yr to start out work on their 2026 challenge. “I’ll be more than happy to remain working with Honda,” he mentioned. “I’ve actually loved working with them during the last six years at Crimson Bull. Nice bunch of engineers.”
Alpine is extensively 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 might be overwhelmed to the championship this yr by considered one of Mercedes’ different clients, McLaren.
However whereas buyer engines could also be aggressive for the time being, Newey has little question that having a works energy unit will probably be important when F1’s new energy unit laws arrive.
Requested what Aston Martin must concentrate on to make one of the best of the chance it faces in 2026, Newey replied: “Any System 1 crew’s the identical. They’ve three principal departments, which is aerodynamics, mechanical design and car efficiency, or car dynamics, it comes beneath these names. So will probably be ensuring that we attempt to have synergy between these departments.
“And with Honda on the PU aspect as a result of there’ll be an enormous – most likely greater than ever – interplay between the PU and the chassis.”
In its press launch which puffed up 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 tackle the query of how its future vehicles will probably be powered. However when the rumours of Viry-Chatillon’s destiny first surfaced, Alpine’s crew principal on the time claimed taking a buyer engine wouldn’t put them at too nice an obstacle.
“There’s a little bit of potential in growing the combination, but it surely’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 challenge with the groups, and all of the integrations are extremely optimised,” mentioned 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 will probably be already very, excellent.”
Was he proper, or is Newey? It’s uncommon to listen to any F1 crew boss admit, as Famin did, that they’re voluntarily sacrificing efficiency, nonetheless little. There isn’t a lot speak of that at Aston Martin, as Lawrence Stroll pours cash into upgrading each side of their operation.
No surprise so many consider at this time’s announcement has much less to do with Alpine’s long-term potential, and as an alternative signifies Renault’s intention to promote up and full its withdrawal from F1.
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