Team Enstone#Renault/Alpine

Although Formula One organisations frequently change their names for branding or ownership reasons,{{Cite web |last=Collantine |first=Keith |date=2024-01-03 |title=Timeline: Ferrari to 'Stake' - the 33 historic identities of Formula 1's 10 teams |url=https://www.racefans.net/2024/01/03/timeline-ferrari-to-stake-the-33-historic-identities-of-formula-1s-10-teams/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=RaceFans |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last=Waddell |first=Adam |date=2021-12-11 |title=Formula One: here are the family trees of every team |url=https://www.topgear.com/car-news/formula-one/formula-one-here-are-family-trees-every-team |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240909203457/https://www.topgear.com/car-news/formula-one/formula-one-here-are-family-trees-every-team |archive-date=2024-09-09 |access-date=2024-12-11 |work=Top Gear |language=en}} Autosport called the Enstone team "particularly chameleonic", even by Formula One standards.{{Cite news |last=Parkes |first=Ian |date=2 February 2016 |title=Analysis: 'Special' Enstone gets its reward with Renault F1 era |url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/analysis-special-enstone-gets-its-reward-with-renault-f1-era-4994519/4994519/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824062541/https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/analysis-special-enstone-gets-its-reward-with-renault-f1-era-4994519/4994519/ |archive-date=24 August 2021 |access-date=24 August 2021 |work=Autosport}} Due to its frequent changes of corporate identity, The Race said that "it's easiest simply to call it 'Team Enstone'";{{Cite news |last=Straw |first=Edd |date=21 August 2021 |title=Every 'Team Enstone' F1 driver ranked |url=https://the-race.com/formula-1/every-team-enstone-f1-driver-ranked/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821182837/https://the-race.com/formula-1/every-team-enstone-f1-driver-ranked/ |archive-date=21 August 2021 |access-date=22 August 2021 |work=The Race}} even the official Formula One website does so on occasion.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-21 |title=Alpine announce further team changes as Flavio Briatore returns in Executive Advisor role |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/alpine-announce-further-team-changes-as-flavio-briatore-returns-in-executive.14mfyaJthQ4dBCx36Kpl6q |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Barretto |first=Lawrence |date=2024-08-25 |title='Everything is possible' – Alpine’s Briatore and Oakes on their plans to tempt Newey and revolutionise Enstone |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/everything-is-possible-alpines-briatore-and-oakes-on-their-plans-to-tempt.1EpfW2C7oENIayqlGqLfVB |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-11-20 |title='It’s a little bit sad to finish like that' – Alonso sets sights on 'good chapter' with Aston Martin as time at Alpine ends in retirement |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/its-a-little-bit-sad-to-finish-like-that-alonso-sets-sights-on-good-chapter.5ojs0EpPbftXBFXCayo5Mc |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website |language=en}} Sources differ on whether the current incarnation of Team Enstone can claim its predecessors' history. As of December 2024, the Formula One website states that Alpine F1 Team entered the sport in 1986 (the year Toleman rebranded to Benetton) and has won two Constructors' Championships and twenty-one races (i.e., the combined records of Enstone-era Renault and Alpine, but not including Benetton, Lotus, or pre-Enstone Renault).{{Cite web |title=Alpine - F1 Racing Team |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/teams/alpine |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website |language=en}}

The Enstone team has competed for podiums, wins, and titles in multiple eras, although it has also endured periods of mediocrity.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Damien |date=1 March 2023 |title='Back to old Benetton' — can Alpine avoid mediocre history repeating? |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/will-alpine-follow-familiar-enstone-road-or-tread-f1-water/?v=79cba1185463 |access-date=1 March 2023 |work=Motor Sport magazine}} From the 1980s to the mid-2000s, Team Enstone was considered one of the "Big Four" Formula One teams, along with Ferrari, McLaren, and Williams, which won every Constructors' Championship from 1984 to 2008.{{Cite web |last=Hyrkiel |first=Pawel |title=Williams Racing Has a Winning Track Record, But Talent Is Stuck In Neutral |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/227643 |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=1995-03-24 |title=Motor Racing: Team-by-Team Guide to the 1995 Formula One World Championship |url=https://www.the-independent.com/sport/motor-racing-teambyteam-guide-to-the-1995-formula-one-world-championship-1612736.html |access-date=2024-12-11 |work=The Independent}} However, the team has struggled to reach its old heights since then;{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Adam |date=2021-03-03 |title=Can Alpine rebrand help Enstone scale the F1 summit again? |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/can-alpine-rebrand-help-enstone-scale-the-f1-summit-again/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Motor Sport Magazine |language=en-GB}} Brawn/Mercedes and Red Bull won every Constructors' Championship from 2009 to 2023. As of the {{Latest F1GP}}, forty-seven drivers have competed for the five different constructors in the lineage in {{sum|685|{{F1cstat|ALP|entries}}}} {{not a typo|Grands Prix}}, winning {{numbertoword|{{sum|49|{{F1cstat|ALP|wins}}}}}} of them.{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Sean |date=1 August 2021 |title=Hungarian GP Facts & Stats: Ocon secures first French triple since Prost – and there's a new record for Alonso |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.hungarian-gp-facts-and-stats-ocon-secures-first-french-triple-since-prost.5XbTbqY86QtN09qWP0wbKh.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805040336/https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.hungarian-gp-facts-and-stats-ocon-secures-first-french-triple-since-prost.5XbTbqY86QtN09qWP0wbKh.html |archive-date=5 August 2021 |access-date=24 August 2021 |website=Formula One website |publisher=Liberty Media}}

Although many designers and drivers have come and gone over the years, the team is best known for its years under the leadership of Flavio Briatore (team principal 1991–97, 2000–09, 2025–present;{{Efn|De facto team principal starting in 2025.}} advisor 2024–present){{Cite web |title=Flavio Briatore |url=https://www.racefans.net/f1-information/drivers/flavio-briatore/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=RaceFans |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Cleeren |first=Filip |date=2025-05-06 |title=Alpine F1 team boss Oakes resigns with immediate effect |url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/alpine-f1-team-boss-oakes-resigns-with-immediate-effect-10720574/10720574/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Motorsport.com |language=en}} and Pat Symonds (engineer and/or technical director 1979–90, 1992–2009),{{Cite web |last=Glendenning |first=Mark |date=2024-05-21 |title=Symonds to join Andretti-Cadillac as technical consultant |url=https://racer.com/2024/05/21/symonds-to-join-andretti-cadillac-as-technical-consultant/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=RACER |language=en-US}} during which it won all seven of its Formula One championships.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-24 |title=Briatore: Mismanaged Alpine will not be sold |url=https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/40974317/mismanaged-f1-team-alpine-not-sold-flavio-briatore-says |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

Following double world champion Michael Schumacher's 1996 move to Ferrari, several senior Enstone personnel, including Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn, joined Schumacher in Maranello, and the Enstone team temporarily returned to "mere contender territory." Nonetheless, the team continued to employ "a number of 'lifers' who date back to the Benetton days," including Briatore, Symonds, and sporting director Alan Permane, the last of whom stepped down in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Alpine confirm Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer and Sporting Director Alan Permane to leave team after Belgian GP {{!}} Formula 1® |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-alpine-confirm-team-principal-otmar-szafnauer-and-sporting-director.13bpB2bdAZnfQCpbv3BZGL |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website |language=en}} In addition, the team rehired Briatore as an advisor in June 2024.{{Cite web |last=Saunders |first=Nate |date=2024-06-21 |title=Briatore back in Formula One as Alpine advisor |url=https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/40399160/flavio-briatore-back-formula-one-alpine-advisor |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

In the 2020s, several ex-Enstone personnel joined the Cadillac Formula One project, although some of them (including Symonds) had already been working for other organisations for several years at that point.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-21 |title=Andretti hires former F1 tech chief Symonds |url=https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/40191591/andretti-hires-former-formula-one-technical-chief-pat-symonds |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=ESPN}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-03 |title=Andretti’s hiring spree |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-2024/59/andrettis-hiring-spree/ |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=Motor Sport Magazine}}

{{Main|Toleman}}

The original constructor in the lineage was Toleman, which competed in other categories of motor racing during the 1970s. Toleman initially operated out of a workshop in Kidlington, but moved to Witney ahead of the 1980 Formula Two season{{Cite news |last=Codling |first=Stuart |date=16 May 2022 |title=The underdog F1 squad that thrust Senna into the limelight |url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-underdog-f1-squad-that-thrust-senna-into-the-limelight/10305319/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=17 May 2022 |work=Autosport}} and entered Formula One in 1981.{{Cite news |last=Rencken |first=Dieter |date=10 March 2021 |title=How Alpine is defying Formula 1 tradition in its pursuit of success |url=https://www.racefans.net/2021/03/10/how-alpine-is-defying-formula-1-tradition-in-its-pursuit-of-success/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310143117/https://www.racefans.net/2021/03/10/how-alpine-is-defying-formula-1-tradition-in-its-pursuit-of-success/ |archive-date=10 March 2021 |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=Race Fans}} Toleman incorporated in April 1984 as Inremco 60 Ltd, but changed its corporate name to Toleman Group Motorsport Ltd in July 1985. Since 1984, all incarnations of Team Enstone have retained the same corporate registration.{{Cite web |date=28 June 2021 |title=Alpine Racing Limited company number 01806337 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01806337 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301013729/https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01806337 |archive-date=1 March 2021 |access-date=5 September 2021 |publisher=Companies House |postscript=}}

Under team principal Alex Hawkridge, Toleman sought to distinguish itself from other small teams by obtaining a works-team supply of turbocharger engines from Hart.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Damien |date=2023-10-02 |title=Benetton: when F1 was in fashion |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/november-2023/96/benetton-when-f1-was-in-fashion/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Motor Sport Magazine |language=en-GB}} However, the team alienated its tyre supplier Pirelli after abruptly switching to Michelin tyres in 1984. After Michelin pulled out of Formula One, the team smoothed relations with the Italian Pirelli by hiring a new team principal and signing Italian fashion brand United Colors of Benetton as its lead sponsor.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Damien |date=30 September 2023 |title=Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers |url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ranking-the-top-10-benetton-f1-drivers/10526830/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=1 October 2023 |work=Autosport}}

From 1981 to 1985, Toleman entered seventy races and recorded three podiums, all of which were earned by Ayrton Senna.

{{Main|Benetton Formula|Benetton Grand Prix results}}

In 1985, Benetton, Toleman's primary sponsor, bought the team from Hawkridge for £2 million. The fashion label branded itself as anti-establishment and was reportedly attracted to Toleman's outsider image. Due to FOCA rules, the team spent one final year as Toleman, but in January 1986, Benetton Group formally rebranded the team to Benetton Formula Ltd ahead of the 1986 season.{{Cite web |date=29 January 1986 |title=Special resolution of Toleman Group Motorsport Limited |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01806337/filing-history/MzA4MzUyNzA3N2FkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905094626/https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-live.ch.gov.uk/docs/msklwosenDmrSgtui4OVGg69y4Nih8NJjWigV7QqDCM/application-pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAWRGBDBV3KMKNHDGJ%2F20210905%2Feu-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20210905T094626Z&X-Amz-Expires=60&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEA4aCWV1LXdlc3QtMiJIMEYCIQDwYvc%2FjFq%2FxdQqDla6X7Vlkk0tjZnUheUJ8GKh0RDh2QIhAOtnJYRH6yLgd6qMpgP030DmDPDTR4TxDED4aYCg%2B0%2BbKvoDCFcQAxoMNDQ5MjI5MDMyODIyIgyMoWz9ANfL8QrObP8q1wPAu7k54SRhRFuBiyqsQ0e1H3Ve%2FRJDZ7wXSPkOg1RfEBnEn2Yh%2BHIY7LMiqtgToKQ0cusoIgs%2BTsSvmtA2%2BxRvAOp3XoHx%2BsjFrBxIgV5Opt7YSaCVMXRbNwceIM1Hn3jm0BdYmhFU%2BQ4VA2d09n21tI%2BcFx99KHBq43uT6%2FofsnODNMjtxrSq1JvmfuJbIkN6tX3tj8MOSZyPRG7k88%2FbqQFqvTxEgRX1AdAeJk%2FH1vD79ZHsqTtQKF3yVaEo7%2BBmXNgrGdMHaJsJ%2Fg2x5CfHrp%2FEJahikeLI5dilzQ%2BaI%2FXT8QUNbivo8Pbrt0Qm%2F7B01Q4Zkp646LXSaCpr5ACEzn7gEFJ78LbV04MloZGKjE0b5AN%2FDynk8s0RNpUpBHmg2Xa01sgYYf1vzPGpb6MLzvDGREDcH7BTFM5MGqh8XPSThL5e6bxTlc27MQH2mPrRn81cbrfsyWkZUpbyv%2BH5T48tbPBaBZDsZX%2B6EOpsXIwV%2ByuGscC3aUVkCqv1TDejEHV5xF2f637Xy9MWY%2ForGYP4UBijCtovozWq9PFG6rNS7NoTtFqnx%2BJ0U48QQrwWTO6UZYQzvMapX8bmpKWULhqlBku%2BUwumCUSvODCuUiC5cZK%2Bla8wlrfRiQY6pAH6sYCIW1VK2873r7R2erMKjfyzAp4Qjxdyx56lVLR1U2Eu5iflzkt8iwF4XfVDJRSOFbvWz43ksaD0SqbUBMcc2geJCAiG%2FnZzBssOwPFF08%2FPpX%2Fu7bD61Ia73dtFsI9P%2Bzj14WfC11brobalTkcDE0x%2BhCa%2FHaCLloazNo3ATOmnZR50ebF42yznTFP9OMczz5PsOa%2B8rgF6TSs3i2YjHb9tpA%3D%3D&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=inline%3Bfilename%3D%22companies_house_document.pdf%22&X-Amz-Signature=c2a77a851d3fca127de6fa21961ecc6e19f7e50f5f12eb5e81fb437e43907c13 |archive-date=5 September 2021 |access-date=5 September 2021 |publisher=Companies House |postscript=}}

The switch from Toleman to Benetton set a long-running precedent: under Formula One rules Toleman and Benetton were two different constructors, but under UK corporate law Benetton was the same organisation as Toleman,{{Cite magazine |last=Jenkinson |first=Denis |author-link=Denis Jenkinson |date=March 1986 |title=The Formula One Scene |magazine=Motor Sport magazine |page=252 |volume=62 |issue=3}} and the same key staffers remained at Benetton after the change, including the design team led by Rory Byrne.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Damien |date=2 October 2023 |title=The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team |url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-salvation-story-behind-benettons-emergence-as-an-f1-team/10527402/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2 October 2023 |work=Autosport}} Toleman wanted to find a buyer who would keep the staff together, and Benetton wanted to see what Byrne could do with a larger budget. Benetton kept Toleman's British licence until 1996, when it switched to an Italian licence.{{cite web |date=1 January 1996 |title=Will Benetton's nationalism cause problems? |url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns00419.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009123244/https://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns00419.html |archive-date=9 October 2019 |access-date=13 September 2006 |work=GrandPrix.com}}{{cite news |date=29 November 1995 |title=Benetton to race under Italian colours |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19951129&id=FWoWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3B4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3285,4122386 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225174319/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19951129&id=FWoWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3B4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3285,4122386 |archive-date=25 February 2021 |access-date=4 February 2014 |newspaper=New Straits Times}}

File:Lotus-Enstone-1.jpgIn the winter of 1991–92, the team left Witney for the new Whiteways Technical Centre in Enstone, Oxfordshire.{{Cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/feb/08/jolyon-palmer-renault-formula-one-debut-season |title= Jolyon Palmer: 'F1 teams don't just take you for your name' |last= Weaver |first= Paul |work= The Guardian |date= 8 February 2016 |access-date= 24 August 2021 |archive-date= 24 August 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210824054539/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/feb/08/jolyon-palmer-renault-formula-one-debut-season |url-status= live }} The team has remained in Enstone through various ownership changes. Enstone is one of several Formula One team bases located near the Silverstone Circuit, an area informally known as "Motorsport Valley".{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/23048643 |title=Britain's Motorsport Valley – the home of Formula 1 |work=BBC Sport |last=Barretto |first=Lawrence |date=26 June 2013 |access-date=24 August 2021 |archive-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927174311/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/23048643 |url-status=live}}

From 1986 to 2001, Benetton entered 260 races and won the 1995 Constructors' Championship and the 1994 and 1995 Drivers' Championships (both with Schumacher). It also recorded twenty-seven victories and 102 podiums. The team's race-winning drivers were Schumacher (19), Nelson Piquet (3), Gerhard Berger (2), Johnny Herbert (2), and Alessandro Nannini (1). In addition, future World Champion Jenson Button raced for Benetton during its final year before its rebrand to Renault.

{{Main|Renault in Formula One|Renault Grand Prix results}}

File:Istanbul park Renault F1 truck.JPG]]

Renault, Benetton's engine supplier,{{Efn|Renault supplied Benetton with factory-supported engines between 1995 and 1997, after which it exited Formula One and ended its factory support of the team. Following its exit, it allowed Benetton to continue using Renault engines, which were built by Mecachrome, distributed by Supertec, and rebadged as Playlife.}} purchased Benetton in March 2000 for $120 million ($221 million in November 2024 dollars).{{Cite web |date=2000-03-16 |title=Renault buys Benetton F1 team |url=https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2124306/renault-buys-benetton-f1-team/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Autoweek |language=en-US}} The team completed one final season under the Benetton name in 2001 before being renamed to the Renault F1 Team for the 2002 season.{{Cite web |url= http://forix.autosport.com/8w/secondlife.html |title= Identity changes in Grand Prix racing |last= Diepraam |first= Mattijs |date= 12 March 2010 |access-date= 23 August 2021 |work= 8W (Forix) |publisher= Autosport |archive-date= 23 August 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210823231016/http://forix.autosport.com/8w/secondlife.html |url-status= live }}{{Cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/motorsport/679468.stm |title= Renault return after Benetton deal |work= BBC News |date= 16 March 2000 |access-date= 24 August 2021 |last= Fahquar |first= Gordon |archive-date= 29 July 2003 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20030729213520/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/motorsport/679468.stm |url-status= live }} Renault invested heavily in the team and recruited new personnel.{{Cite news |last=Newbold |first=James |date=23 April 2021 |title=The hidden hero behind Alonso's Enstone F1 glory years |url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-hidden-hero-behind-alonsos-enstone-f1-glory-years-/6369776/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430141256/https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-hidden-hero-behind-alonsos-enstone-f1-glory-years-/6369776/ |archive-date=30 April 2021 |access-date=22 August 2021 |work=Autosport}} Led by Fernando Alonso, the team enjoyed a renaissance in the mid-2000s. However, following the "Crashgate" scandal, Briatore and Symonds were forced to leave the team, and several Renault sponsors cut ties with Enstone.{{Cite news |date=2009-09-24 |title=Renault suffer sponsorship blows in fall-out from Crashgate |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/sep/25/renault-sponsors-end-deals |access-date=2024-12-12 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Revenue fell by forty-nine percent in 2010, with the loss of £41m/year title sponsor ING single-handedly plunging the team into the red.{{Cite news |last=Sylt |first=Christian |date=2011-09-10 |title=Renault Formula 1 team makes £34m loss |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/sep/11/renault-f1-team-makes-loss |access-date=2024-12-12 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}} In addition, Alonso left for Ferrari.

From 2002 to 2011, Renault entered 280 races and won double world championships in 2005 and 2006, with Alonso winning both Drivers' Championships. It also recorded twenty victories and fifty-nine podiums. The team's race-winning drivers were Alonso (17), Giancarlo Fisichella (2), and Jarno Trulli (1).

{{Main|Lotus F1}}

Genii Capital purchased a seventy-five percent controlling stake in the team ahead of the 2010 season,{{Cite news |last=Benson |first=Andrew |date=16 December 2009 |title=Renault will stay in Formula 1 despite selling its team |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8415935.stm |access-date=24 August 2021 |work=BBC Sport}} and bought out the remaining twenty-five percent for €5 million at the end of the year.{{Cite web |last=Sylt |first=Christian |title=Renault Booked $170 Million Loss On F1 Team |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/csylt/2015/12/30/renault-booked-170-million-loss-on-f1-team/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Forbes |language=en}} The team retained the Renault name for the 2011 season,{{Cite news |last=Noble |first=Jonathan |date=13 January 2011 |title=Renault to switch to British licence |url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/renault-to-switch-to-british-licence-4443456/4443456/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304155912/https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/renault-to-switch-to-british-licence-4443456/4443456/ |archive-date=4 March 2021 |access-date=24 August 2011 |work=Autosport}} but starting in the 2012 season, Genii's primary sponsor, Lotus Cars,{{Cite news|url= https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-floundering-fortunes-of-f1s-many-lotus-reboots/6672017/ |title= The floundering fortunes of F1's many Lotus reboots |work= Autosport |last= Smith |first= Damien |date= 22 September 2021 |access-date= 22 September 2021 |url-access=subscription}}{{Cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9267715.stm |title= Renault F1 team to be renamed Lotus Renault GP in 2011 |work= BBC Sport |date= 8 December 2010 |access-date= 23 August 2021 |archive-date= 7 September 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170907172251/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9267715.stm |url-status= live }} signed a deal to rename the team to Lotus F1. The team had no corporate connection to the old Team Lotus. To honor its hometown, the team's chassis designations all contained an "E" for "Enstone".{{Cite news |url= https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/lotus-names-2012-f1-challenger-4452462/4452462/ |title= Lotus names 2012 F1 challenger |last= Elizalde |first= Pablo |work= Autosport |date= 27 January 2012 |access-date= 23 August 2021 |archive-date= 23 August 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210823233129/https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/lotus-names-2012-f1-challenger-4452462/4452462/ |url-status= live }}

Led by Kimi Räikkönen, the team was initially quite competitive, exceeding its own expectations. The team gave Räikkönen a contract that awarded a €50,000 bonus for every World Championship point (i.e., €19.5 million over two years), which was said to have nearly bankrupted the team.{{Cite web |last=Woodhouse |first=Jamie |date=2024-01-13 |title=How Kimi Raikkonen's amazing success almost bankrupted Lotus |url=https://www.planetf1.com/news/kimi-raikkonen-almost-bankrupted-lotus |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=PlanetF1 |language=en}} Räikkönen's salary was not the only problem for Lotus, which posted a combined net loss of £184 million under Genii's ownership.{{Cite web |last=Sylt |first=Christian |date=2015-12-26 |title=Renault back on F1 starting grid after £1 Lotus deal |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/12070010/Renault-back-on-F1-starting-grid-after-1-Lotus-deal.html |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=The Telegraph |language=en}} The team laid off ninety-three staffers in 2015.

From 2012 to 2015, Lotus entered seventy-seven races and recorded two victories (both by Räikkönen) and twenty-five podiums (all by Räikkönen and Romain Grosjean).

{{Main|Alpine F1 Team}}

File:2020 F1 Pre-Season Testing Catalonia (49629834637).jpg]]

At the end of the 2015 season, Renault repurchased a 90% stake in Team Enstone from Genii for £1. It bought Genii's remaining shares in 2022,{{Cite web |last=de Latude |first=Astrid |date=2022-02-23 |title=Renault Group announces that it has recently acquired Genii Capital's remaining minority shareholding in Alpine Racing Limited |url=https://media.renaultgroup.com/renault-group-announces-that-it-has-recently-acquired-genii-capitals-remaining-minority-shareholding-in-alpine-racing-limited/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Newsroom Renault Group |language=en-EN}} but at the end of the 2023 season, it sold a 24% stake to a syndicate of outside investors led by Alec Scheiner for €200 million, which valued the whole team at roughly $900 million.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-18 |title=Alpine Racing Ltd finalises the sale of 24% of its share capital for €200m to investor group led by Otro Capital |url=https://media.renaultgroup.com/alpine-racing-ltd-finalises-the-sale-of-24-of-its-share-capital-for-eur200m-to-investor-group-led-by-otro-capital/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Newsroom Renault Group |language=en-EN}} The Renault team name returned for the 2016 season.{{Cite news |url= https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/renault-confirms-works-formula-1-return-with-lotus-takeover-4995757/4995757/ |title= Renault confirms works Formula 1 return with Lotus takeover |work= Autosport |last1= Parkes |first1= Ian |date= 3 December 2015 |access-date= 23 August 2021 |archive-date= 23 August 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210823233629/https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/renault-confirms-works-formula-1-return-with-lotus-takeover-4995757/4995757/ |url-status= live }} Starting with the 2021 season, Renault renamed the team to the Alpine F1 Team, after their subsidiary marque Automobiles Alpine.{{Cite web |last=Balfour |first=Andrew |date=1 May 2021 |title=Team Enstone: tracing the roots of the Alpine F1 team |url=https://f1experiences.com/blog/team-enstone-tracing-the-roots-of-the-alpine-f1-team |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823234755/https://f1experiences.com/blog/team-enstone-tracing-the-roots-of-the-alpine-f1-team |archive-date=23 August 2021 |access-date=23 August 2021 |work=F1 Experiences |publisher=Liberty Media}}

During Carlos Ghosn's tenure at Renault, the team was dogged by accusations that the parent company was unwilling to invest enough money in the team to be title contenders. Adrian Newey (whose Red Bull team acrimoniously stopped purchasing Renault engines in 2018) said that Ghosn personally told him he was not interested in the sport.{{Cite web |last=Day |first=Lewin |date=2023-09-27 |title='I Have No Interest in F1,' Carlos Ghosn Told Red Bull During Renault Struggles |url=https://www.thedrive.com/news/carlos-ghosn-once-told-red-bull-he-had-no-interest-in-f1-during-renault-era |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=The Drive |language=en-US}} Following Ghosn's ousting in 2018, the team went through several senior management changes in the 2020s.{{Cite web |last=Mallak |first=Jad |date=2024-06-18 |title=What is really going on at Renault-Alpine? |url=https://www.grandprix247.com/2024/06/18/what-is-really-going-on-at-renault-alpine/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=GRANDPRIX247 |language=en-US}} Renault rehired Briatore as a special advisor in 2024, with significant influence over personnel and management decisions,{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Mark |date=2024-07-08 |title=From a PR perspective re-hiring Flavio Briatore looks disastrous |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-2024/25/mark-hughes-from-a-pr-perspective-re-hiring-flavio-briatore-looks-disastrous/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Motor Sport Magazine |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2024-12-09 |title=F1 2024: the bizarre return of Flavio Briatore |url=https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/industry-news/alpine/briatore-f1-team-return/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=CAR Magazine |language=en}} and made him de facto team principal in mid-2025. In Briatore's first year, Enstone's workforce declined by twenty-five percent.{{Cite web |last=Valantine |first=Henry |date=2024-11-10 |title=Inside Alpine’s ‘spring cleaning’ operation with huge job cull revealed |url=https://www.planetf1.com/news/flavio-briatore-alpine-job-losses-spring-cleaning |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=PlanetF1 |language=en}} In addition, the team stopped sourcing engines from Renault's in-house facility and secured a customer engine supply from Mercedes, a decision made before Briatore's arrival.{{Cite web |last=Sarkozi |first=Kada |date=2024-11-19 |title='Smart decision by Briatore and Alpine to choose Mercedes' |url=https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/313337/schumacher-thinks-alpine-made-good-choice-with-mercedes.html |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=GPblog.com |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Noble |first=Jonathan |date=2024-08-28 |title=Briatore not the "bad guy" in ending Renault’s F1 engine project |url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/briatore-not-the-bad-guy-in-ending-renaults-f1-engine-project/10648506/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240914040543/https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/briatore-not-the-bad-guy-in-ending-renaults-f1-engine-project/10648506/ |archive-date=2024-09-14 |access-date=2024-12-12 |language=en}}

From 2016 to 2020, as Renault, the team entered 100 races and recorded three podiums (by Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon). As of the {{Latest F1GP}}, Alpine has won {{numbertoword|{{F1cstat|ALP|wins}}}} race (by Ocon) and recorded {{numbertoword|{{F1cstat|ALP|podiums}}}} podiums (by Ocon, Fernando Alonso, and Pierre Gasly).

• {{flagicon|GBR}} Toleman — based in Witney; competed with a British licence from the 1981 season to the 1985 season.{{Cite web |url= http://forix.autosport.com/8w/6thgear/con-yby.html#TOLEMAN-BENETTON |title= World Championship constructor history - Toleman/Benetton |work= 6th Gear (Forix) |publisher= Autosport |last1= Muelas |first1= Félix |last2= Diepraam |first2= Mattijs |date= 3 March 2021 |access-date= 23 August 2021 |archive-date= 23 August 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210823234305/http://forix.autosport.com/8w/6thgear/con-yby.html#TOLEMAN-BENETTON |url-status= live }}
• {{flagicon|GBR}}/{{flagicon|ITA}} Benetton — competed from the 1986 season to the 2001 season, holding a British licence until the 1995 season and then switched to the Italian licence from the 1996 season onwards; based in Witney until the end of the 1991 season before moving to Enstone ahead of the 1992 season.
• {{flagicon|FRA}}/{{flagicon|GBR}} Renault — French car manufacturer Renault's Formula One operation was based out of Enstone for two stints, the first lasting from the 2002 season to the 2011 season, and the second from the 2016 season to the 2020 season. The team held a French licence throughout both periods except for the 2011 season when they competed under a British licence.{{efn|Renault had previously competed in Formula One from the 1977 season to the 1985 season with a French licence and a team based in Viry-Châtillon, France.{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Roy |date=15 November 2008 |title=Alpine & Renault: The Development of the Revolutionary Turbo F1 Car 1968-1979 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=646PVGF2Bd8C&q=renault+re50&pg=PA206 |publisher=Veloce Publishing Ltd |isbn=978-1-8458-4177-5 |access-date=28 December 2019 |via=Google Books |archive-date=24 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824005024/https://books.google.com/books?id=646PVGF2Bd8C&q=renault+re50&pg=PA206 |url-status=live }}}}
• {{flagicon|GBR}} Lotus — operated from the 2012 season to the 2015 season under a British licence, with Lotus Cars having been Renault's title sponsor during the 2011 season.{{efn|Not to be confused with Team Lotus, Pacific Team Lotus, or Team Lotus (2010–2011), which were largely unrelated organisations.{{Cite news|url= https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/2020-turkish-grand-prix-qualifying-stroll-skates-to-pole-in-istanbul |title= 2020 Turkish Grand Prix qualifying: Stroll skates to pole in Istanbul |date= 14 November 2020 |access-date= 24 August 2021 |last= Dodgins |first= Tony |work= Motor Sport magazine |archive-date= 27 November 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201127132749/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/2020-turkish-grand-prix-qualifying-stroll-skates-to-pole-in-istanbul }}{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/13572332 |title= High Court rules Team Lotus can keep its name |date= 27 May 2011 |access-date= 4 September 2021 |work= BBC Sport |last= Kravitz |first= Ted |archive-date= 3 August 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210803084121/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/13572332 |url-status= live }}}}
• {{flagicon|FRA}} Alpine — a constructor named after Renault's subsidiary brand Automobiles Alpine has been operated by the Enstone organisation since the 2021 season with a French licence.

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Toleman}}

{{Benetton Formula}}

{{Renault F1}}

{{Lotus F1}}

{{Alpine F1}}

Category:Nicknames in sports

Category:Formula One constructors

Category:Formula One entrants