Alpine to Make Mercedes Engine Decision in Four Weeks

Alpine has announced it will decide within four weeks whether to remain as a factory engine team or become a customer of Mercedes for the 2026 Formula 1 season. Renault’s board is currently evaluating the future of its F1 engine project, based in Viry-Châtillon, as the team considers the benefits and drawbacks of continuing to develop its own power unit versus purchasing engines from another supplier.
The 2026 regulations will require more equal power distribution between internal combustion engines and hybrid components. Renault had already begun working on an engine for these new regulations. However, after discussions with Renault CEO Luca de Meo, Bruno Famin, a key figure in Alpine’s F1 project, revealed the potential cancellation of the engine project. Some employees at Viry have already expressed discontent by going on strike and protesting at the Italian Grand Prix.
In a statement to Autosport, de Meo mentioned that switching to Mercedes engines is a strong possibility, but no final decision has been made. While becoming a customer team could reduce costs, there are also potential marketing downsides to giving up a factory engine project. The financial implications of producing an in-house power unit versus sourcing one from Mercedes will play a critical role in the final decision.
De Meo emphasized that Alpine’s priority is building a competitive project, and many factors, including marketing risks and financial savings, must be weighed carefully before a decis