After Renault setbacks, Mecachrome partners with Audi, securing its future in Formula 1 and aiming for broader opportunities in motorsport.
After two major setbacks linked to Renault, French engine manufacturer Mecachrome is back on track. The company has officially partnered with Audi F1, marking a fresh chapter in its long-standing motorsport journey. And this might not be the only new deal—another Formula 1 team is also showing strong interest.
Mecachrome isn’t new to Formula 1. In the late 1990s, when Renault officially stepped away from the sport, Mecachrome took over engine operations. During that time, Williams ran Mecachrome-branded engines, keeping Renault technology on the grid under a new name.
Founded in 1937 and headquartered in Aubigny-sur-Nère, Mecachrome operates across 22 sites globally. Its expertise spans aerospace, defense, marine, energy, and space—but it’s their automotive division that’s been deeply involved in F1 and endurance racing.
For years, Mecachrome worked alongside Renault to assemble F1 power units built in Viry-Châtillon. They also developed hybrid engines for Alpine’s endurance racing program in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). That partnership, however, came to an abrupt end last year when Alpine announced a switch to Mercedes power units starting in 2026.
The blow was compounded when Renault decided to bring WEC engine operations back in-house to its new Hypertech Alpine center in Viry-Châtillon, which also focuses on hydrogen innovation. These decisions left Mecachrome’s motorsport department in a tough spot.
“It was a major hit to our teams, especially those dedicated to motorsport,” said Mecachrome CEO Christian Cornille. “We had to tell them, just days ago, that we couldn’t continue this part of our business. Alpine chose to bring endurance racing activities back under their roof.”
But in every crisis lies opportunity. With the end of their exclusive contract with Renault, Mecachrome was free to look elsewhere—and they wasted no time.
“As soon as we were released from our exclusivity, we reached out to every F1 team,” Cornille explained. “We successfully convinced Audi Sport to partner with us on the production of several key components.”
Unlike their previous role with Renault, Mecachrome won’t be assembling engines for Audi. Instead, they’ll focus on manufacturing high-precision parts. Still, this collaboration will help protect jobs at their Aubigny site.
Even better, Mecachrome is already in advanced talks with another Formula 1 team for a second partnership, possibly involving different responsibilities.
For Mecachrome, this isn’t just a return—it’s a reinvention.
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Mecachrome Makes a Comeback in Formula 1 with Audi Mecachrome Makes a Comeback in Formula 1 with Audi
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