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Renault faces an escalation in the internal protests of its Formula 1 strategy, possibly aiding one prospective investor's unexpected interest in keeping its engine project going.
The French manufacturer has multiple options for both the Alpine-branded team that keeps being linked with a sale, and the engine programme it is currently set to axe.
In the months since it emerged Renault plans to switch to a customer supply from Mercedes from 2026, Renault has been persistently linked with eventually selling its F1 team.
Though it continues to insist that is not on the cards, Renault is actively engaged in shutting down the engine programme at Viry-Chatillon as chairman Luca de Meo wants to pursue a more cost-effective future.
This has been met with a fierce response by the Alpine Racing Works Council, which represents Alpine's engine workers and is putting as much pressure as it can on Renault to change its mind.
A protest at Monza two weeks ago coincided with a strike in Viry itself, and there is set to be a bigger demonstration in France this week on Thursday, ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
This was originally due to be a follow-up protest at Viry again but will instead be outside Renault’s headquarters at Boulogne-Billancourt, from 11am to 3pm.
It will be supported by a wider Renault workers union La CGT Renault, which symbolises the issue goes beyond Viry and is a bigger company matter.
“The Viry employees will be joined by delegations from the CGT unions of the Renault Group to denounce the abandonment of the Renault engine in F1 and the dismantling of the automobile industry in France,” a statement seen by The Race read.
“What is happening today in Viry is the visible part of what has been happening for years in the Renault Group.”
While this has played out publicly and embarrassingly for Renault, at least two parties are understood to have had conversations with senior Renault figures – including de Meo – about investment proposals.
One of them is believed to be the LKYSUNZ organisation that was unsuccessful in getting an F1 entry as part of the FIA's expressions of interest process last year and has since turned its attention to trying to invest in an existing team.
This supports the assumption made by many in F1 that facilitating a sale on the right terms still seems possible, even if the Alpine team is not formally for sale and de Meo's F1 adviser Flavio Briatore has insisted he "never wants to sell".
Renault already sold a 24% stake to a US consortium last year and some shares within that stake that could be sold to new investors. But there remains interest from external parties in investing in Alpine outside of the existing consortium, which would mean buying some or all of Renault's shares.
The key question, though, is who would be willing to buy Alpine and what their intentions would be. Whether a Renault engine programme is or is not attached is key to that appeal - depending on the prospective buyer/investor.
Briatore has backed the rationale for Renault abandoning its own engine for 2026 by pointing to its poor record in the V6 turbo-hybrid era. He says this was not his doing and that the company had determined prior to his arrival that the expense involved was not worthwhile.
But the timing suggests otherwise, especially given there was talk of Briatore advising de Meo before it was eventually confirmed by Alpine, not to mention the prevailing opinion in the paddock is that Briatore simply is the key to this happening.
It is widely expected that Briatore, who is renowned for his skills as a deal-maker, will be an asset in helping Renault offload the team at some point. Stripping away the Viry engine facility simplifies that process as it will be easier to buy a standalone team in Enstone, with a customer engine deal and supply of other parts like rear suspension and gearbox set up with Mercedes.
The arrival of Hitech Grand Prix boss Oliver Oakes as Alpine team principal added further intrigue given Hitech's own unsuccessful attempt to get on the grid as part of the FIA's process. Hitech's interest in F1 was serious.
Though it is easy to draw a quick connection between Renault and a potential suitor, there is not just one clear path.
One option that seemed logical on paper, but is not believed to be realistic as it stands, is that taking over Alpine could be the perfect solution for the frustrated Andretti-Cadillac effort.
Andretti and General Motors were, like Hitech and LKYSUNZ, thwarted in their attempt to get their own F1 entry approved - and with GM plotting a works engine in 2028, it seemed rational for Andretti attempt to take over at Enstone and then GM could potentially utilise Viry as a European engine base.
That is not in the offing and Andretti is not believed to be interested in buying Alpine. But LKYSUNZ is.
While the organisation will not comment officially, The Race understands that a second investment proposal was submitted by LKYSUNZ to senior Renault management in August that included a major commitment to fund and use the Renault F1 engine. It is also believed to be open to the Alpine name still being used in some capacity.
The exact details would likely be determined by what Renault is willing to sell, whether it decides its engine programme is worth keeping after all, and how it sees F1 fitting into its strategy longer-term.
It is unclear whether the Alpine Racing Works Council is aware of this investment interest and a potential proposal to keep the Renault F1 engine going. It has previously called Renault's plan a "betrayal" of the original Alpine vision and a "disgraceful abandonment of the team's legacy and 50 years of high-tech history and expertise".
The Race has reached out to both the Works Council and Alpine's F1 team for comment.
