This move bears the mark of Luca De Meo, president of Renault Group, and his relationship with Claudio Descalzi: Alpine has officially announced Eni’s return to Formula 1, with the Italian multinational becoming an Official Energy and Fuel Partner under a multi-year agreement.
This strategic partnership will make Eni a key player in the development of e-fuel starting next year, a fuel with no carbon-derived components that will be the standard in F1. Eni will compete directly on track with major oil companies such as Shell, Petronas, Aramco, BP, and ExxonMobil.
The announcement also marks Eni’s return to a team affiliated with Enstone, following its last F1 partnership with Benetton in 2000. Additionally, the team will collaborate with Eni to promote the Enilive brand at selected races throughout the 24-race season.
Luca De Meo, CEO of Renault Group: “The beauty of the automotive sector is that it’s a team sport. This is more true than ever as we reinvent mobility. To develop innovative solutions, nothing beats combining the expertise and talents of great companies. That’s why I am excited about this partnership with Eni, not only in Formula 1 but also in exploring new opportunities for shared and efficient mobility. Together, we have the potential to push boundaries even further.”
Claudio Descalzi, CEO of Eni: “Today, we are signing an important agreement that allows Eni and Renault Group to combine their industrial significance and technological excellence in their respective fields to open new paths in key areas for transport sustainability. Equally important is the introduction of biofuel experimentation with Alpine in F1, a competition that embodies the relentless pursuit of technological excellence in engines and performance.”
As a Premium Partner of the team, the Eni brand will be visible on the A525, which will compete for the team in the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, as well as on the race suits and helmets of all the drivers. The livery will only be revealed at the F1 launch event on February 18 at The O2 Arena in London, while the new car itself will be seen for the first time in Bahrain before testing begins.
Eni’s presence will also extend to the pit stop crew (the team working in the garages during races) and the entire operational environment of the BWT Alpine Formula One Team. This includes a future collaboration to assess and analyze innovations related to fuel technologies and the development of biofuel for top-level motorsport competitions.
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor, BWT Alpine Formula One Team: “We are immensely proud to celebrate Eni’s return to Formula 1 with BWT Alpine Formula One Team. Eni has played a significant role in our team’s history and was an important partner in F1 in the past. We share the same goals, particularly in energy efficiency, sustainability, and future biofuel-based products. It’s fantastic to have them back with BWT Alpine Formula One Team, and we look forward to working on many exciting projects together, both on and off the track.”
Eni and Renault Group have also signed an agreement to identify and develop future collaboration opportunities for the decarbonization of the transport sector.
As part of this partnership, the companies will work together to explore joint development paths in various areas, including electric mobility infrastructure, smart mobility services, and energy supply solutions to support the transition process.
A concrete first result of this agreement is the purchase of Renault vehicles by Enjoy, the car-sharing service of Enilive.
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