When it comes to passion, Formula 1 fans are known for their dedication—but this weekend, it’s the Alpine F1 team’s engine facility staff that are turning up the heat. As the Italian Grand Prix approaches, the usually quiet Viry-Chatillon factory is making some noise—literally and figuratively.
The Cause for Concern
It all started with a few images circulating on social media, particularly on X (formerly known as Twitter) , where banners at Monza displayed the message: "Alpine Renault PU 2026 Let Us Race." The protestors? None other than the dedicated team members of Alpine’s Viry-Chatillon engine facility, who have been left feeling rather, well, left out in the cold.
Under the leadership of Renault CEO Luca de Meo, the company is mulling over a decision that has sent shockwaves through its engine facility—the possibility of withdrawing from Formula 1 as an engine supplier.
With escalating development costs and the looming prospect of sourcing engines from established suppliers like Mercedes or Ferrari, the fate of Renault’s power unit development is hanging in the balance.
A Shocking Development
For the team at Viry-Chatillon, the news hit hard. After years of dedication, the factory workers were just starting to see the fruits of their labor with a promising 2026 power unit in development. But just as hopes were high, the brakes were slammed.
Renault’s consideration to halt production and development left the team disheartened, feeling as though their hard work was being shelved in favor of more cost-effective, but less gratifying, alternatives.
While management has assured employees that they would be transferred to other departments with "comparable opportunities and challenges," the reality has been less than reassuring. This uncertainty has fueled the decision to protest, with employees planning a peaceful demonstration during Friday's free practice session at Monza.
The Protest and Beyond
In tandem with the Monza protest, employees back at the Viry-Chatillon factory will also be striking to express their dissatisfaction. The goal is to gain support from locals and elected officials, hoping to steer the decision back in favor of continuing their engine development efforts.
Alpine acknowledged the planned actions in a statement released via F1technical.net, saying:
“We are aware of some activities planned this weekend from staff of Viry-Chatillon engine facility.
"We understand from their communication these will be peaceful protests and will not impact team operations. The transformation project is still being evaluated and no decision has been taken yet by Alpine’s management.
"The dialogue, which opened since the project was presented to the Viry employee representatives in July, is important to Alpine’s management and will be pursued in the upcoming weeks.”
The Bigger Picture
Alpine's Formula 1 team is already undergoing significant changes, with Flavio Briatore stepping in as the new executive advisor. Though Briatore emphasized that the decision to potentially scrap the engine program was made by de Meo before he joined the team, his influence has already been felt with key appointments like Oliver Oakes as the new team principal and the signing of Formula 2 driver Jack Doohan for the 2025 season alongside Pierre Gasly.
But for the Viry-Chatillon team, the future remains uncertain. Will their peaceful protests be enough to keep the engines running, or will Renault shift gears entirely? For now, the team can only hope their voices are heard—loud and clear.
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