Numerology and F1: Ferrari’s lucky streak after Renault leaves?. With Renault engines gone for 2026, some F1 fans draw parallels to Ferrari’s historic Schumacher era..

F1 curiosities, numerology smiles on Ferrari: Renault engines gone, 5 world titles ahead?

In football, they call it “historical cycles,” while in Formula 1 it’s often just statistics — yet sometimes the numbers tell coincidences that make fans dream. With the start of the 2026 season, the grid loses a piece of history: for the first time since 2000, the name Renault no longer appears among engine suppliers. Alpine has closed its Viry-Châtillon engine department to install Mercedes Power Units.

The French farewell and the Schumacher era

But what happened the last time the Diamond decided to officially step back as an engine supplier? You have to go back to the late 1990s. After Renault’s official withdrawal at the end of 1997 (leaving engines to Mecachrome/Supertec management), Formula 1 entered a transitional phase that led, from 2000 onwards, to absolute dominance.

Coinciding with the absence of an official Renault commitment (which would return strongly in the following years), Ferrari began its most successful cycle ever: Michael Schumacher won 5 consecutive world championships (2000–2004), delivering an unforgettable era to the Scuderia’s fans.

Hamilton or Leclerc as the new Kaiser?

Today, history seems to repeat itself, at least in the early signs. Renault exits the scene, Alpine becomes a Mercedes customer, and Ferrari arrives at the starting line with a duo of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. If numerology were to hold, the absence of the French engine could be a prelude to a new red dominance cycle. It’s just a statistical coincidence, of course, but in Maranello, any good omen is warmly welcomed.

The historical parallel between the Schumacher era and the current 2026 setup offers a fascinating narrative for Ferrari fans as they head into a season of massive technical change. While the exit of Renault marks a shift in the sport’s industrial landscape, the statistical alignment with Ferrari’s previous golden age provides a much-needed psychological boost for a team under immense pressure. Whether Hamilton or Leclerc can replicate the Kaiser’s dominance depends on the reliability and power of their new hybrid unit, but if history is truly cyclical, the Red cars might just be the ones to beat as the new era begins.