Failed F1 Entry Team Makes “Big Commitment” to Save Renault Engines

Some teams that previously attempted to enter F1 and failed are interested in buying Renault.

Renault and Alpine’s future in Formula 1 has become uncertain following the team’s confirmation that it will reduce activities to lower costs. Since its introduction in 2014, Renault has produced the least successful hybrid engine of the era, winning only four races: three with Red Bull and one as Alpine at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. Questions have arisen about whether they will continue after the new engine regulations are implemented in the 2026 season.

Renault CEO Luca de Meo has denied that the team will be sold in the future but announced plans to use Mercedes engines by closing the engine unit division due to the costs of having an F1 engine program. Staff at the Viry Chatillon engine factory staged a protest during the Italian GP, wearing #ViryOnTrack shirts and holding banners opposing the reallocation of resources from the factory.

As the future of the French company remains uncertain, a report by The Race reveals that Renault’s engine unit project could be saved by selling Alpine to a company that previously failed in F1. In 2023, when the FIA opened the F1 team bid process, six candidates applied, including Andretti, Hitech, and another Asia-based US-funded team, ‘LKYSUNZ’.

Benjamin Duran, one of the founders of LKYSUNZ, had previously attempted to enter F1 with Project Panthera Team Asia outside the UK in 2019. According to the report, LKYSUNZ was interested in buying Alpine from Renault and made a second investment offer to the top management in August. This offer includes a significant commitment to finance and use Renault F1 engines and indicates openness to using the Alpine name in some form.

While specific details on how Renault will adapt its engine division to its overall strategy are not yet clear, it provides hope that this division will not be entirely eliminated.

Another short-term possibility for Renault is selling the engine division to General Motors, which has future grid ambitions. GM executives are reportedly considering purchasing intellectual property from the French automaker.

This follows Andretti’s rejection of F1’s commercial rights holders’ claim that Andretti would not add value to the championship. In its rejection letter, F1 noted that it would approach Andretti’s application “differently” if it involved an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) partner.

Andretti had definitively said ‘no’ to buying Alpine. However, GM is now showing interest in building an engine that meets the 2026 specifications, which could happen sooner if they buy Renault’s existing facilities. Although they have not produced the most competitive engine, the history and expertise within the French team could offer a significant advantage if GM acquires the engine division.