Ex-Renault F1 boss Abiteboul feels sorry for former colleagues

Former Renault F1 chief Cyril Abiteboul has expressed his sympathy for his former colleagues at Viry-Chatillon who are set to be impacted by a major shift in the manufacturer’s Formula 1 operations.

The uncertainty surrounding Renault's future as a power unit manufacturer has sparked concerns among employees at the Viry-Chatillon factory, which has been the heart of the constructor’s F1 engine operations for four decades.

However, Renault is reportedly planning to convert its engine facility into a broader technological hub for Groupe Renault, potentially moving away from manufacturing F1 power units.

This would mark a significant shift for the Alpine F1 team, which could become a customer team rather than a factory outfit, with Mercedes rumored to be the likely engine supplier starting in 2026.

Abiteboul, who left Renault in early 2021 after spending two decades with the company, witnessed the latter’s journey in F1 firsthand.

The 46-year-old French engineer, who now oversees Hyundai’s rally programme in the WRC, acknowledged the challenges that his former colleagues at Viry are facing.

“I feel sorry for the group of people I knew very well,” he said, speaking to Motorsport.com’s Brazilian affiliate.

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Abiteboul’s long history with Renault, particularly his 15-year tenure at Viry-Chatillon, gives him a deep understanding of the impact these changes could have on the employees who have dedicated their careers to Formula 1.

“I worked there for 15 years, that’s a long time, and many things have changed,” he said.

“I’d like to think that it’s not the end of the story for those who have dedicated their lives to Formula 1, but I’m no longer the boss, so it’s difficult to comment.”

The Formula 1 landscape is set for significant changes in 2026, with new chassis and power unit regulations, as well as the entry of new manufacturers like Audi and Ford.

This influx of competitors highlights the evolving nature of the sport and raises questions about Renault’s continued involvement as a power unit supplier.

Despite the growing interest from other manufacturers, Abiteboul downplayed the possibility of Hyundai entering F1 in the near future.

“I don’t think we’re ready for that,” he said.

“Formula 1 is a world apart, there’s no way we’d come as a sponsor, we’re authentic, it’s not in our interest to pay other people’s bills, it’s not our style, but the other option would be to come with our own technology.

Abiteboul acknowledged that while Hyundai might consider entering Formula 1 in the long term, it would be a significant undertaking for the Korean brand requiring extensive preparation.

“For now, we’re not ready for it, we’re not even interested – maybe in the long term, but in the short term, we’re not ready at all,” he added.

“Our only chance of getting in would be in 2031, but we haven’t decided on that year yet. It would definitely take five years to get ready. Take Audi as an example, they also decided in 2021 to enter in 2026.”

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