Alpine F1 Team is changing engines for 2026! Starting that season, the F1 team will leave behind its own engines to adopt Mercedes’ powerful engines.
A decision that had been anticipated for months, but is this really good news for the French team? Is this new Mercedes engine a revival attempt, or a critical move aimed at selling the team in the medium term?
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Why Alpine is betting on Mercedes AMG?
Alpine’s choice to turn to Mercedes marks a strategic shift for the French team, which is stepping back from developing its own engines. Despite ambitious plans at their Viry-Châtillon site, where Renault engines are designed, Renault CEO Luca de Meo and strategy advisor Flavio Briatore decided to steer the team toward a strong collaboration with Mercedes. This choice ensures Alpine F1 Team top-notch technology while simplifying the integration of components into the chassis. Alongside engines, Alpine will also use Mercedes gearboxes, another step to optimize performance and efficiency. Although it’s a tough pill for Alpine fans to swallow, this move is expected to save tens of millions annually.
Team Statement
BWT Alpine Formula One Team and Mercedes-Benz sign Power Unit and Gearbox agreements. pic.twitter.com/ucLBR70kK9
— BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) November 12, 2024
What this means for Alpine F1 Team starting in 2026
This alliance between Alpine and Mercedes is set to last until at least 2030, covering the entire new regulatory era in Formula 1. Beyond securing reliable engine performance, the addition of Mercedes gearboxes could offer Alpine F1 Team greater flexibility in designing their F1 cars. Observers believe this strategy is both a cautious and ambitious choice: Mercedes has a long track record and proven reliability in F1 engines and currently supplies teams like Aston Martin, McLaren, and Williams. While the French team will no longer make its own transmissions, they still retain the option to explore a return to in-house engine design as early as 2027. But unfortunately, that seems highly unlikely to me. A more commercially logical solution would be to sell the team to the highest bidder, capitalizing on a significant profit after spending one or two seasons climbing back up the rankings.
Immediate impact on the paddock and rivals
This engine shift at Alpine F1 Team has set off a true game of musical chairs in the paddock. While the French team takes over the engine supply agreement Mercedes previously had with Aston Martin, Aston Martin will switch to Honda engines in 2026. Meanwhile, teams like McLaren and Williams will continue to benefit from Mercedes technology, keeping four teams powered by German engines. Alpine’s Sporting Director, Oliver Oakes, emphasizes that the goal is to strengthen the team for 2026. With strong backing from Luca de Meo and Briatore, Oakes is optimistic about Alpine’s future performance on the grid. This partnership could indeed boost the team’s competitiveness, allowing them to fight among the best. Looking at McLaren’s performance this year, they’re clearly ahead of Mercedes in the standings-even as a customer team.
Is 60% of Red Bull’s revenue enough to save their F1 driver with only 6 wins
This article explores how the Alpine and Mercedes partnership for 2026 could transform the F1 landscape, influencing other teams’ strategic decisions and redefining the sport’s technological stakes.
Source: Alpine F1 Team Press release
