The situation between Renault and the city of Viry-Châtillon is taking an explosive turn. The mayor, Jean-Marie Vilain, does not hesitate to speak of “betrayal” following the announcement of the end of the brand’s F1 engine program, scheduled for September 2024. The commitments made to the historic site seem to be evaporating, leaving room for legitimate anger from employees and elected officials.
An Unexpected Announcement
Has the Renault group renounced the commitments made to the Viry-Châtillon site with the decision to end the brand’s F1 engine program in September 2024? This is certainly what the mayor of the city, Jean-Marie Vilain, denounces in a post on social media, where he shared a video as well as a press release reiterating his statements. In this announcement, he emphasizes the abandonment of promises made during the announcement of the end of the engine program, which then simply meant sidelining the work started on the 2026 engine, for which Renault had initially committed.
A New Center of Excellence in Peril
During the announcement, it was specified that the historic site of the Viry-Châtillon factory would become “Hypertech Alpine,” a “center of excellence in engineering and high technology.” This center was to focus on the “future projects of the Renault group,” such as “the future Alpine supercar,” and ensure research and development on hydrogen technology as well as electric engines. However, it was also supposed to maintain a monitoring unit for F1, which now seems compromised.
Employee Concerns
The day after this announcement, representatives of Alpine Racing employees expressed their concerns: “The content, resources, and sustainability of the new projects that management wishes to bring to Viry appear still very unclear. The communicated sizing of the F1 monitoring unit (staff and budget) seems still too weak and calls into question the potential return of Alpine as an engine supplier in the long term.” These statements reflect a climate of uncertainty that weighs heavily on the future of the site.
Justified Anger
One and a half years later, Jean-Marie Vilain speaks out again, this time with palpable anger. On February 8, he denounced a “betrayal” by Renault, claiming to have learned that the company had decided to “renounce its commitments regarding the Alpine site,” an announcement scheduled during a Social and Economic Committee (CSE) on February 12. In a viral video, he expresses his astonishment: “My astonishment is proportional to my anger at this denial and this disrespect for the word given.”
A Call for Responsibility
In his press release, titled “Lies and Betrayal by the Renault Group Regarding the Alpine Site in Viry-Châtillon,” he reminds that the city had accepted Renault’s decision to stop the development of the Formula 1 engine, acknowledging the group’s desire to create a center of engineering excellence. “If the disappointment had been great, we had shown our sense of responsibility.” But today, this responsibility seems to be undermined.
The Challenge of the Future
Vilain also emphasizes the commitments made during previous follow-up committees, which aimed to ensure the establishment of the future center of excellence. “As we wanted to reconvene this committee to take stock, what was my astonishment to learn that Renault was renouncing its commitments.” A true twist that casts a shadow over the recent victories of the group, notably that of the A424 in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
Conclusion: Towards What Future?
The current situation raises a crucial question: what future for the Viry-Châtillon site and its employees? Jean-Marie Vilain calls for the responsibility of Renault’s leaders and awaits intervention from the State, a major shareholder of the group. “I reserve the right to take all possible actions against this betrayal.” It is clear that the matter is just beginning, and eyes are now focused on the upcoming decisions regarding the future of the site and the commitments made to its employees. For those interested in Formula 1 and its ecosystem, this situation deserves our full attention.
