Alpine F1 Team
The Enstone-based team rebranded from Renault in 2021, racing with a French licence and Mercedes engines.
Alpine Racing Limited, currently racing as BWT Alpine Formula One Team for sponsorship reasons, is the name under which the Enstone-based Formula One team has been competing since the start of the 2021 Formula One World Championship. Formerly named Renault F1 Team and owned by Groupe Renault, the team was rebranded for 2021 to promote Renault's sports car brand, Alpine, and continued to serve as Renault's works team until Renault pulled out of Formula One as an engine manufacturer at the end of 2025. The team currently uses Mercedes engines, having previously done so as Lotus in 2015. The team is based in Enstone, Oxfordshire, England and competes with a French licence. The team currently fields Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan as its full-time drivers. In its current form as Alpine, the team's sole win was achieved by Esteban Ocon at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.
- Sport
- Formula One
- Base
- Enstone, United Kingdom & Viry-Châtillon, France
- Rebranded As Alpine
- 2021 Season
- Status
- Active Constructor
- Lineage Origin
- Benetton Formula (1983)
- Affiliation
- FIA Formula One World Championship
Lore & Background
The team first competed in Formula One in 1981 as Toleman, based in Witney, England. In 1986, after purchase by Benetton Group, it was renamed Benetton, winning the 1995 Constructors' Championship and Drivers' Championships with Michael Schumacher in 1994 and 1995. Prior to the 1992 season it moved to its current location in Enstone. By the 2000 season, Renault had purchased the team, and by 2002 it was renamed Renault F1 Team, winning Constructors' Championships in 2005 and 2006 with Fernando Alonso winning Drivers' Championships in those years. In 2011, Lotus Cars became a sponsor, and the team was named Lotus Renault GP, racing as Renault for that season. By 2012, Genii Capital had a majority stake, and from 2012 to 2015 the team was Lotus F1 Team, racing as Lotus. At the end of 2015, Renault took over again, renaming it Renault Sport Formula One Team, racing as Renault from 2016 to 2020. In September 2020, Groupe Renault announced the team would be rebranded as Alpine F1 Team for 2021.
In Their Own Story
The garage hummed with the low-frequency vibration of cooling fans as the mechanics prepped the car for qualifying. The light blue livery gleamed under the harsh floodlights of the paddock, reflecting the French tricolor subtly woven into the design. A veteran engineer checked the telemetry one last time, his eyes scanning data streams that whispered secrets about tire degradation and fuel flow. Outside, the track was a ribbon of asphalt waiting to be conquered, a modern stage for an old rivalry.
Reader's Guide
The team operates in a 17,000 m² facility on a 17-acre site in Enstone. By May 2023, Alpine had approximately 1,000 personnel in Enstone and 350 in Viry-Châtillon. In June 2023, Renault Group sold a 24% stake in Alpine Racing Ltd to a consortium led by Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners and Maximum Effort Investments for €200 million. Additional minority investors joined later in 2023, including NFL players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, golfer Rory McIlroy, footballers Trent Alexander-Arnold and Juan Mata, and former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua. In 2025, Renault further adjusted ownership by selling an additional minority stake, reducing its shareholding to approximately 60%. In 2026, it was reported that Otro Capital was looking to sell its stake.
Did You Know?
- The team's sole win as Alpine was achieved by Esteban Ocon at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.
- The team moved to its current Enstone location prior to the 1992 season, not in the late 1970s.
- The team first competed in Formula One in 1981 as Toleman, not as Benetton in 1983.
- Alpine's first race in 2021 ended with Fernando Alonso retiring on lap 33 due to a brake issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Alpine F1 Team?
They are a French-owned constructor competing in the Formula One World Championship. The team embodies a blend of British manufacturing heritage and French motorsport passion.
What is the historical lineage of Alpine F1 Team?
While officially rebranded recently, their roots trace back through the Renault era to the historic Benetton works outfit from 1983.
Where are the Alpine F1 Team facilities located?
The team operates primarily from an Enstone facility in Oxfordshire alongside engineering support based at Viry-Châtillon in France.
When did the team officially become known as Alpine?
The constructor was officially rebranded under the Alpine name for the 2021 season.
What is the current status of the Alpine F1 Team?
They hold an active constructor status within the FIA Formula One World Championship.
More in Team History & Eras
Elsewhere in the Alpine F1 universe
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