Luca de Meo to meet Renault F1 power unit staff at Viry

The meeting will take place as De Meo is in the process of making a decision regarding the F1 power unit operations Viry-Châtillon.

Since De Meo hired Flavio Briatore as an Executive Advisor, Alpine has bee going through various changes with Bruni Famin replaced as team principal by Oliver Oakes while the French F1 outfit announced that there are plans being evaluated to drop their power unit operations in favor of becoming a customer of Mercedes.

The staff at Viry-Châtillon have refused the plans of their bosses and asked De Meo to back down labeling the decision a betrayal while insisting in a statement by the Social and Economic Council of Alpine employees in Viry-Châtillon, that their 2026 power unit project is promising.

At the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Alpine staff protested over the course of the weekend, as 80% of the employees held a strike at the factory while 100 more travelled to Monza to take part in the peaceful protest.

A new report in Motorsport.com revealed that De Meo has agreed to meet with Viry-Châtillon staff representatives later this week.

The Social and Economic Council of Alpine employees said in a statement: "The social and economic council (CSE) of Alpine Racing, the engine manufacturer for the French Formula 1 team, has announced that it has arranged a meeting with Luca de Meo, Chairman and CEO of Renault Group, on Friday 20 September 2024 in order to bring to his attention the incomprehension surrounding the end of F1 engine development in France at the Viry-Chatillon site, a unique technology in France.

"The staff representatives thank Mr de Meo for responding favourably to this request," the statement added.

De Meo insisted a decision is yet to be made, but September 30th has been reported as a final deadline.