Renault evaluating future of its F1 engine factory

It seems the Renault-owned Alpine F1 team are destined for radical changes, as the top management in the French car manufacturer plot the future of their struggling F1 operation.

Renault CEO Luca de Meo has recently hired Flavio Briatore as an Executive Advisor, to help set the path for the future of Alpine in F1.

Briatore has led the Enstone-based team in the past when it was known as Benetton and then Renault winning Titles with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. He was banned from the sport after the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix crashgate.

As it turned out, Briatore order his driver Nelson Piquet Jr to crash to get a Safety Car out which would benefit teammate Fernando Alonso who went on to win the race.

Briatore was banned alongside the team's tech boss at the time Pat Symonds who returned to F1 in several roles his latest heading the technical side within Formula One Management.

Briatore on the other hand managed to overturn the rule, but remained lurking in the background of F1 until his ultimate return with Alpine.

Motorsport.com reported that Alpine employees at Enstone and Renault engine employees at Viry-Châtillon have been informed of re-assessment of the situation for the future.

It seems that Briatore is pushing for Renault to abandon its F1 power unit operation and distribute the redundant employees as a result over other areas of the Renault group while seeking to become a customer team in terms of engines.

There have been talks that a deal for engine supply is close with Mercedes, with Toto Wolff revealing they are open to supply Alpine with power units.

The reports also claim the deal would be extended to cover other car parts such as the suspension and gearboxes, and depending on fast it can be concluded could be effective from 2025.