Optimism about Mercedes deal
Of course, the integration of Mercedes engines one of the biggest changes for Alpine this year. Initially, moving away from Renault power was a move that divided opinion.
On the one hand, giving up on Renault engines (especially as their engineers had already spent years developing the 2026 powertrains) could be interpreted as a failure to commit in the team’s own talent.
From the opposite side of the debate, some argued that Mercedes power units were almost guaranteed to be more competitive. Based on reports about the German manufacturer’s 2026 power unit progress, Alpine’s decision to change suppliers could be vindicated.
According to Sanchez, Alpine’s collaboration with Mercedes is going smoothly:
“We work in the most open way possible. The exchanges are very good, the integration of this power unit went very well.
“Now we will continue to correct the remaining minor issues and focus on reliability and overall integration.”
Generally speaking, the other Mercedes customer teams – McLaren and Williams – have received more coverage throughout the winter break. Both teams were widely seen as more likely to capitalise on a potentially superior Mercedes engine.
Of course, Williams’ failure to have the FW48 ready for Barcelona changes the narrative. To be clear, Alpine’s recent track record does not inspire a huge amount of confidence about their 2026 chances – regardless of their power unit supplier.
Still, the engineers in Enstone should not be written off. The Alpine technical department is led by David Sanchez, a highly respected figure who held senior positions at Ferrari and McLaren.
Even prior to Sanchez’s arrival, Alpine produced the fourth-fastest car when the 2022 regulations kicked-off. They accomplished this despite carrying a performance deficit from the Mercedes engine.
For 2026, therefore, the French squad’s trajectory will be intriguing to observe.
Main photo: Alpine F1 Media Gallery
