Source: Sports Press Photo/Philippe Nanchino / SPP
[Saba Sports News] The Renault Group’s decision to close its F1 engine department has disappointed some, especially the more than 300 employees at the engine plant in Viry-Chatillon, who feel angry and dissatisfied. In response, Renault CEO Luca de Meo conducted crisis management and made sharp comments in an interview with L’Équipe, stating that the poor performance of the Alpine F1 team forced him and the board to make this decision. Luca de Meo admitted that apart from true motorsport enthusiasts, regular fans and sponsors support a team rather than an engine. Partners choose to sign with McLaren not because of the Mercedes engine under its hood. The audience for F1 has changed, expanding to include younger people and women. These new groups interpret the sport differently; they support drivers, colors, and brands rather than engines. If Alpine F1 finishes the season with its current performance, we will lose additional bonuses next season, and sponsors will become scarce. Shareholders will calculate the economics; they aim for profitability, and Alpine must be profitable. In response, some fans criticized that the board allocated much less funding to the engine department compared to other power unit manufacturers, making it unrealistic to produce an engine capable of catching up with Ferrari with only one-third of the budget.