Alpine to become the fourth Mercedes-powered team come 2026, signing a deal to last until at least the end of 2030.
It has been announced that Alpine have secured a deal with Mercedes. The French team will run the German manufacturer’s power unit between 2026 and 2030. Not only that, but they will also be using the Silver Arrows’ gearbox supply.
It was just last month that Alpine announced that they will shut down their works engine programme at the end of the 2025 season, as a part of their ‘Hypertech’ transformation project. They will still continue to manufacture their own power units as well as gearboxes next season, only ditching home-grown Renault power for German Mercedes power come 2026.
Alpine have since been in talks with other teams regarding engine supply, with Mercedes looking like the favourites throughout. The French team will become the fourth Mercedes-powered team on the grid. McLaren, Williams and Aston Martin have been powered by the German outfit for years now, with the partnerships not set to end any time soon.
What Alpine has to say
In a short statement released by the team, Alpine stated that:
“The multi-year agreement will see Mercedes-Benz supply Alpine with Power Units for the duration of the new regulations era, from 2026 until at least 2030.
“Alongside the Power Unit, Alpine will also be supplied with Mercedes gearboxes from the 2026 season.
“The team remain focused on performing in the strongest way possible in the 2024 and 2025 seasons.” – Alpine team statement.
Last month, Alpine boss Oliver Oakes spoke after the announcement to find a new engine supplier:
“It was a decision made at group level which I think had been going on for some time, before I joined the team.
“I think it wasn’t an easy decision, but I think the crux [is] of wanting the best engine in the car and evaluating what the best option is for the team.” – Oliver Oakes.
Why this is the right move for Alpine
Alpine have struggled with power unit issues for years, dating back to their Renault days. Red Bull Racing used the Renault powertrains from 2007, up till 2018. Reliability issues pushed the Austrian team to end their partnership with Renault (now Alpine).
Reliability issues have not been all that have plagued the Renault power though. Alpine’s power unit has been the least competitive on the grid for years. Their power unit has cost them time on some circuits, with tenths of a second lost making a big difference in a sport as precise as Formula 1.
Mercedes on the other hand have had a strong power unit for years. They arguably have the strongest one on the grid. It has also proven to be the most reliable one, their biggest reliability issues dating all the way back to 2016.
McLaren, who have had the fastest car on several occasions this season are Mercedes-powered. Aston Martin who enjoyed their fair share of podiums, and Williams who had superior straight-line speed last season are also Mercedes powered.
As F1 nears entry into a new era, it seems like the right time for Alpine to step back on some operations, and reevaluate the difficult position they have been in for a while now.
The 2026 engine
For the 2026 season, the V6 turbo hybrids will undergo the biggest change since their introduction. The new power units will be designed to use significantly less energy, but will still be as powerful.
A notable change will be the removal of the MGU-H system for 2026. The 2026 engines will have a heavy focus on the battery as well as the use of 100% sustainable fuels. F1 teams will have the chance to observe the new fuels early as Formula 3 will be making the switch to 100% sustainable fuels in 2025, before Formula 2 or Formula 1.
Alpine, who have just come off the back of a very successful Brazilian Grand Prix, with a double podium can look to the future with more confidence, as they sign with a more reliable and powerful engine supplier for the seasons to come.
