How Alpine's 2026 engine choice hands Mercedes a major edge over Ferrari in F1
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Alpine has officially announced a new technical partnership with Mercedes, set to commence in the 2026 Formula 1 campaign. This development follows the decision by parent company Renault to shut down its engine manufacturing facility. Under the agreement, Alpine will utilize Mercedes power units and gearboxes through at least 2030, marking a significant shift for the French team. Renault, however, will continue developing its engines until the conclusion of the 2025 season.
Renault CEO Luca de Meo explained the move as part of a broader restructuring of the company's Formula 1 project. He cited ongoing financial challenges in Renault's automotive division, exacerbated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as a key factor behind the decision. While the closure of the engine division has sparked discontent among Alpine staff, de Meo emphasized the necessity of reducing costs, noting that maintaining an F1 engine program is an exceptionally expensive endeavor.
Former F1 driver Romain Grosjean, who raced for Renault during his career, expressed his disappointment, describing the closure as a “sad” development. Grosjean competed with the team during its 2009 campaign and later from 2012 to 2015 when it operated under the Lotus brand.
This collaboration with Mercedes marks the second instance in the last decade that Alpine's Enstone-based outfit will run Mercedes engines. The team briefly used Mercedes power in 2015 before Renault's acquisition and the subsequent relaunch of its factory team.
On the "Pit Talk" podcast, motorsport journalist Matt Coch described Ferrari's and Audi's decisions not to pursue a similar deal with Alpine as "baffling." Matt Coch argued that Mercedes stands to gain a significant competitive edge from this partnership, particularly under the new engine regulations set to debut in 2026.
Mercedes Gains Key Advantage against Ferrari in 2026 F1 Landscape
The introduction of hybrid power units in 2014 highlighted the importance of customer teams in Formula 1. Suppliers like Mercedes, Ferrari, and Renault benefited from additional data through partnerships with other teams using their power units. As Formula 1 prepares for another major regulatory overhaul in 2026, only Mercedes and Red Bull are expected to supply power units to multiple teams. In contrast, Ferrari, Audi, and Honda plan to focus exclusively on their works teams and Aston Martin.
"I'm baffled as to why the likes of Ferrari or Audi or any of the other power unit manufacturers weren't fighting tooth and nail to get that supply deal with Alpine. We're going into 2026 and all the regulation cycle data is going to be important," said Matt Coch. – “Mercedes has more regulation data than any other manufacturer, particularly than the likes of Honda who is going to have one team, Ford is going to have one team, Ferrari won't have that many data points, Mercedes is going to have a massive competitive advantage and having someone pay for the privilege. That's just brilliant business." – the motorsport journalist pointed out.
Mercedes: Dominant Force in the Hybrid Era
Since the advent of hybrid power units in 2014, Mercedes has established itself as the most successful engine supplier in Formula 1. The team's dominance can be traced to its early investment in hybrid technology, which began as far back as 2011. This head start, coupled with considerable influence over the regulatory framework, gave Mercedes a decisive advantage when the new rules came into effect.
It took Ferrari three seasons to develop a power unit capable of challenging Mercedes, while Honda endured years of struggles before finding success with Red Bull in 2020. Despite these advancements, Mercedes remains the benchmark in terms of wins and overall performance. By contrast, Renault has managed only four Grand Prix victories as an engine supplier since 2014.
As Alpine transitions to Mercedes power, the French team hopes to benefit from the expertise and technological prowess of the most successful engine manufacturer of the hybrid era. The move underscores the rapidly shifting dynamics in Formula 1's competitive landscape as teams prepare for a new era of innovation and competition.
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