Prost: 'Very difficult' for Renault to return to F1 as engine maker
Alain Prost says Renault's exit as an F1 engine maker after 2026 may be permanent, citing the extreme difficulty of returning under future rules. He calls it the emotional end of a defining, nearly 50-year chapter in the sport's history.
Four-time F1 champion Alain Prost believes the sport may have seen the last of Renault as an engine manufacturer for the foreseeable future, warning that a return under the next-generation regulations would be extremely difficult. The French brand, which pioneered the turbo engine in F1 in 1977, is concluding its factory program as Alpine switches to Mercedes power from 2026.
Why it matters:
Renault's exit marks the end of one of Formula 1's most enduring and influential engine partnerships, spanning nearly five decades. Its departure as a works supplier underlines the immense financial and technical challenges of the current era, potentially signaling a consolidation of power unit manufacturers that could reshape the competitive landscape.
The details:
- Prost, who maintains close ties with Renault and won his 1993 title with Williams-Renault, expressed understanding for the financial decision but significant emotional disappointment.
- He highlighted the higher operational costs for a team based in France compared to the UK's motorsport hub as a key factor.
- The Viry-Châtillon engine facility, the heart of Renault's F1 program, will now shift its focus to supporting Alpine's Hypercar effort in the World Endurance Championship.
- Unlike past eras where Renault withdrew and later returned (notably in the late 1980s and again in the 2000s), Prost sees the modern F1 landscape as too demanding for a similar comeback.
The big picture:
Renault's history is woven into the fabric of F1, powering legendary teams and drivers to success. Its pioneering turbo technology in the late 1970s changed the sport. The closure of this chapter removes a historic player and reduces the number of works engine manufacturers, concentrating development resources among fewer entities like Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, and Audi (from 2026).
What's next:
Prost's assessment suggests Renault's future involvement in F1, if any, would likely be in a different capacity rather than as a full-fledged engine manufacturer. The focus for the French automotive giant now turns to its Alpine brand's competitiveness with customer Mercedes engines from 2026 onward, while its engineering legacy continues in endurance racing.