BWT Alpine Formula One Team – The Renault engine falls silent: Goodbye Viry-Châtillon, goodbye Mecachrome

This Sunday, under the falling dusk of Abu Dhabi, the Renault engine will run for the very last time.

The Alpine A525 will line up with a V6 E-Tech beneath its cover — built for the final time in the workshops of Viry-Châtillon, assembled for the last time by Mecachrome. No send-off victory, no miracle comeback.

Just a final appearance, deep in the field, carrying half a century of history on its shoulders.

Viry-Châtillon and Renault: a pillar of Formula 1 we will never forget

Nearly fifty years of presence, broken only by two brief absences. Renault has been a constant in Formula 1 since 1977. From the first turbocharged win in 1979, to the golden years with Fernando Alonso, to the titles with Red Bull, the rebirth with McLaren, and the long, uneven road as a factory team — the Losange was always there.

23 world titles, 178 wins, over 500 podiums, 771 Grands Prix.

And now, it all stops.

From 2026, Renault will no longer supply a single team.

Alpine has chosen to run Mercedes engines. The decision is final. Cold, rational, and perhaps necessary.

But it also marks the saddest moment in Renault’s Formula 1 story — closing the door on a tradition of French engineering, of in-house mastery, where engine and chassis were born under one roof, united in purpose.

In the garages at Yas Marina, the team gathered quietly. The final power unit from Viry was signed by hand. A white marker on a bare casing. No big speeches, no staged emotions — just a few photographs, a few faces. That was the tribute. Sincere. Silent. Final.

And Mecachrome bows out too. Their long-standing role — machining, assembling, testing and delivering the engines from Aubigny-sur-Nère — ends this weekend. A technical partner in the shadows, loyal to the very end. Their exit, like the engine they built, comes with dignity and without noise.

Pierre Gasly and Fernando Alonso pay tribute as Alpine closes a chapter it cannot afford to reopen

On track, Pierre Gasly didn’t shy away from reality. The A525 is off the pace. The last Renault-powered car will start from the back. But his words carried no bitterness — only thanks.

He spoke simply, acknowledging the people at Viry and Mecachrome who supported him over the last three seasons. The engineers, the mechanics, the ones who gave their maximum in difficult times. No excuses, just gratitude.

“It’s going to be special,” he said. “I’ve had so much pleasure working with all the engineers and mechanics who’ve been with me these past three years. As always, I’ll try to give my best in the car, and finish on as high a note as possible, whatever the result.

For me, it’s important to thank them. We did great work with the resources we had. I know they gave everything for me. So thank you.”

And then, Fernando Alonso. Two-time world champion with Renault. One of the most iconic names ever to drive with a Viry-built engine.

He will return to Viry-Châtillon on Sunday — not to race, but to hug those who helped build his legend.

“It’s an incredible moment. Saying goodbye to a constructor like Renault means so much to the sport, with all the success and history behind the brand.

It’s sad — I’ll be at Viry on Sunday to give everyone a hug. It’ll be emotional for me too.”

One last visit. One final gesture. Before the silence settles in for good.

In place of the Renault V6, a Mercedes engine will power the Alpine A526 in 2026. The shift has already been analysed in detail in our article Mercedes engine in 2026: no more excuses.

Because from now on, the performance must come.

There is no more technical alibi. No more fallback. Alpine will carry full responsibility for its results. And we will be watching. With high expectations. Because when a team gives up its engine to survive, failure is no longer forgivable.

To every person at Viry-Châtillon — the technicians, engineers, builders, thinkers. To every person at Mecachrome, who gave life to each and every engine delivered.

Thank you.

Thank you for giving Formula 1 a French voice.

Thank you for the resilience. For the passion. For the legacy.

The engine stops. But the memory does not.

Source : Auto Hebdo