New Renault CEO Francois Provost has committed Alpine to Formula 1, but given its torrid recent on-track performance, questions linger over the team’s long-term participation in the sport.
Despite pouring huge resources into its F1 program, Renault has failed to emulate the success it enjoyed in the mid-2000s. Since the turbo-hybrid era began in 2014, Renault hasn’t kept pace with powertrain development, consistently losing lap time to its rivals.
Switching to racier Alpine branding has done little to change its fortunes—the team’s engine program has fallen so far behind, it’s being shuttered for good later this year.
Yet, despite Alpine’s performance deficit, Provost has reiterated that the outfit is here to stay and underlined how the upcoming 2026 rule change offers an opportunity for a rebound.
Provost said: “Formula 1 is part of our core strategy for Alpine, and this I do not intend to change.
“The unique priority for the Formula 1 team is performance, improved performance this year, and, of course, moreover, to succeed in 2026 with the new car,” he added. “This is a unique priority given to Formula 1.”
How Renault got lost in the midfield
When Renault won its last world titles with Fernando Alonso 19 years ago, beating none other than Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher, this kind of trophy drought seemed impossible. But lap times don’t lie, and Alpine are currently nowhere near the front-running McLarens.
Before F1 switched to hybrid V6 engines, the team still looked competitive. Prior to his horrific rally accident, Robert Kubica regularly fought near the front, picking up three podiums. As Lotus Renault, the outfit also competed well in the early 2010s. Kimi Raikkonen even managed a few race wins, earning him a return to Ferrari in 2014.
However, the team dipped in form from then onwards. After a few years mired in the midfield, the signing of Daniel Ricciardo in 2019 initially gave the team a boost. The Aussie picked up two podiums the next season—team boss Cyril Abiteboul still has the tattoos to prove it—but this turned out to be a flash in the pan.
Amid claims that its engine was up to 53 bhp down on its rivals, not even the re-signing of legendary driver Fernando Alonso could help turn things around. Fast-forward to the present day, and Renault has finally lost patience with its powertrain division.
The team will race with Mercedes power units from next season onwards—and change is clearly in the air. For drivers Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly, who placed 18th & 19th at the Hungarian Grand Prix before the summer break, upgrades can’t come soon enough.
Out of the frying pan, into the fire?
Renault’s latest attempt to return to the front has seen them turn to disgraced former boss Flavio Briatore. The Italian was banned from F1 for life for his part in the race-fixing scandal at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, but his ban was later lifted, paving the way for his return.
The questionable nature of this decision has already been underlined by the departure of team principal Oliver Oakes mid-season. Earlier this year, driver Jack Doohan also lost his seat to Franco Colapinto, who has failed to fulfill the early promise he showed at Williams.
In F1, chaos rarely leads to success. Championship-winning drivers rely on methodical teams developing cars capable of competing across seasons. The collapse of Red Bull’s management structure, for example, has coincided with their drop down the field.
Provost’s backing should give Alpine’s leadership room to operate in. But Renault has left F1 before—only really returning as a full works team in 2016. At $135 million a year, competing is still an expensive burden for OEMs. Alpine will need to start delivering from 2026, or more heads are likely to roll.
Where next for Alpine in Formula 1?
After his latest crash at a Pirelli tyre test, Colapinto’s future continues to be in doubt. Alpine has also turned its attention to 2026, so a late-season recovery seems unlikely.
But there could be a light at the end of the tunnel. Rule changes have a habit of shaking up the existing F1 order, and 2026 represents a golden opportunity for Alpine. Next year, it’ll finally switch to a Mercedes engine and gearbox, and driver changes are already being touted.
According to Briatore, he’s still “trying to put the team back together,” but there’s no reason to believe they can’t dream of competing for podiums again next year.
Briatore said: “When you are in Formula 1, you’re dreaming as well to do the job. You hope. And in this moment, the team is quite new. The team is not performing like I wanted because we still have… a lot of the situation in the team is not clear.
“But we need to clear up everything,” he added. “Before we start performing like I want, I believe we need all of 2025 now, and we need 2026 to be competitive, to at least sometimes see the podium very close. These are what we’re looking for.” [Quotes by Formula 1, MotorsportWeek]
Are Alpine improving? Or should Renault call it a day?
ADVERTISEMENT
