Employees of the French Alpine team plan to protest on the Friday preceding the Grand Prix weekend in Monza. The staff disagree with Renault’s decision to withdraw as an engine supplier from Formula 1 in 2026. Alpine intends to continue as a customer team once the new regulations are implemented.
Alpine announced earlier this year that it plans to continue as a customer team in 2026. Former team boss Bruno Famin explained in July that purchasing an engine is significantly cheaper than continuing engine production. Alpine is reportedly in talks with Mercedes to become a customer of the German racing team. The company’s employees aim to halt this development with their protest in Monza.
A Peaceful Protest
“This project risks many engineers and technicians, considered the elite in their field, leaving France to continue their activities in Formula 1,” warned the employees, speaking to the press in Monza. “In addition, the contracts of about a hundred service providers will expire.”
The employees hope to draw attention to their concerns with banners and white T-shirts bearing the hashtag #ViryonTrack (Viry-Châtillon is the location of the engine factory). The staff aim to conduct their peaceful protest in the stands without disrupting the Formula 1 sessions.
