Former top executive critical of Renault: 'Ten years of bad management'

F1 News

Former Renault engine project chief critical of quitting F1
2 October at 19:00
  • Ben Stevens
  • Editor

Bruno Mauduit, in charge of Renault's F1 engine project between 1981 and 1999, does not have a good word to say about the manufacturer's decision to quit the top class of motorsport from 2026. The Frenchman calls the choice "tragic and sad".

It had been coming for a while and this week the final verdict came: Renault will stop supplying engines from 2026. A different direction is being taken and the Formula 1 project no longer fits in there - partly because of the cost.

"I had 99% expected it. It was already decided in August. It is very unfortunate and sad for the whole history of Viry," Mauduit said in an interview with sports newspaper L'Equipe. "This decision is not surprising, it is the result of 10 years of bad management, poor results and only supplying one team."

McLaren was still running Renault engines until 2020 but then switched to Mercedes power units. Since then, Renault has only supplied power units to its 'own' Alpine. Performances in recent seasons have not necessarily been anything to write home about.

'Poor results'

"There is no reason to continue at the moment," Mauduit judges ."We are told that the 2026 engine is brilliant, but we have yet to see that. We cannot use that as an argument to continue. What has been done in recent years is not enough. And everyone is to blame for that. All that matters are the results, and if you don't have results, it is difficult. It gets worse and worse."

He concludes, "We have to stop the bleeding. This closure is tragic and sad. More should have been done instead of waiting and being satisfied with the poor results. People should have revolted internally."

This article was written in collaboration with Corwin Kunst