Renault Chief pinpoints “Frankenstein compromise” of 2026 F1 power units

Renault chief Luca de Meo highlighted the compromises that the engine manufacturers will have to make to develop the engines in 2026.

Renault Chief pinpoints “Frankenstein compromise” of 2026 F1 power units

Luca de Meo (via Getty)

Formula 1 previously announced radical and agile regulations for the 2026 season. The chassis will get smaller in size with the engine becoming more environmentally friendly. However, the new balance between internal combustion engines and hybrid systems would become more complex. Renault chief, Luca de Meo admitted that the new regulations could put forth more complications for the team.

Renault power units backed Alpine is currently facing a desperate performance slump in the 2024 season. The French constructor is all set to ditch Alpine and sell the team in Formula 1 and also shut down the engine program. Amidst Renault’s tumultuous future in the sport, Luca de Meo proposed a method to run the engines without hybridization.

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In the long term, F1 could, who knows, propose a technological simplification like imagining an engine without hybridisation, without electrification, which makes noise and runs on e-fuel for the green image.

Luca de Meo told L’Equipe.

Speaking about the new regulations of the 2026 season, Luca de Meo raised some concerns. De Meo labeled the regulations to be a ‘Frankenstein compromise’ in terms of requirements. The Italian is concerned with the exponentially rising development costs which are difficult to manage for the drivers as well in terms of performance.

This new regulation is a kind of Frankenstein, a compromise of the requirements of each manufacturer. Development costs have become exponential. It’s going to be quite difficult to manage, even for the drivers.

Luca de Meo added.

Renault does not have the structure to be at the forefront

Renault’s engine proved to be dissatisfactory to multiple teams as they rejected the power units over time. Additionally, with Alpine’s shift to Mercedes, this could be the end of an era for Renault at the pinnacle of motorsport. Luca de Meo recalled that back when he joined the company, they wanted to shut off the Formula 1 project. The reason for this was that the team did not have enough resources to be at the forefront of multiple crucial development processes.

Alpine chassis equipped with a Renault works power unit (via confidential-renault)
Alpine chassis equipped with a Renault works power unit (via confidential-Renault)

When I arrived four years ago, the group wanted to stop F1, We don’t have the structure to be at the forefront of battery chemistry development, software management, energy recovery.

Luca de Meo admited.

Alpine is still fighting out on the track to improve its position in the pecking order towards the end. Renault must work on the engine and put forth some extremely beneficial prospects to be considered by any other team on the grid. As things currently are, the French constructor might face a disappointing end to their stint in Formula 1.