Source: REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
[Saba Sports News] Renault CEO Luca de Meo recently revealed surprising news during an interview: Alpine plans to stop using its own Renault engine before 2026, primarily due to economic considerations. Alpine is currently ranked poorly in the standings, sitting at 9th place, which has led to a loss of prize money and few sponsors. In this situation, continuing to invest heavily in producing its own engine may not yield corresponding returns. Additionally, the Renault power unit currently used by Alpine performs poorly, and it is uncertain whether success can be achieved with the next-generation turbo hybrid car set to launch in 2026, raising doubts about the necessity of investing heavily in producing its own engine. Renault is considering abandoning its F1 power unit project and allowing Alpine to become a customer team to adapt to the new F1 engine regulations coming in 2026.