Alpine to Run Mercedes Engines from 2026 as Renault Scales Back F1 Engine Program*
The Alpine Formula 1 team has announced a major shift starting in 2026, as it will switch to Mercedes power units after parent company Renault decided to end its in-house F1 engine program. This strategic move, confirmed on Tuesday, will see Alpine using Mercedes engines and gearboxes under the new F1 engine regulations, which are set to take effect in 2026 and last through at least 2030.
Focusing on the Present as Change Looms
Alpine stressed that the team’s focus remains on performing well in 2024 and 2025 before the Mercedes partnership begins. The team will continue to use Renault power units next season, as it aims to strengthen its position in Formula 1.
In recent months, Renault has begun converting its Viry-Châtillon facility near Paris into a broader engineering center for non-F1 projects. Once a powerhouse in F1 engine manufacturing, Renault has a legacy dating back to the 1970s, including pioneering turbocharged engines and supplying championship-winning engines to teams like Benetton, Williams, and Red Bull. Renault’s last F1 driver’s title came in 2013 with Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull.
Alpine’s Recent Upswing Despite a Challenging Season
The announcement of the Mercedes partnership follows a surprising success for Alpine at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly clinched second and third place, respectively.
This double-podium finish behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was Alpine’s best result of the season and a rare bright spot for the team, which had previously struggled to break into the top ten.
With a season filled with leadership changes and inconsistent performance, the Brazil podium doubled Alpine’s points tally for 2023 in a single race, lifting them to sixth in the constructors’ standings as the season nears its end.
Future Line-Up: Doohan to Replace Ocon
Looking ahead, Alpine has confirmed that it will still run Renault engines in 2025, with rising Australian star Jack Doohan set to join the team as Pierre Gasly’s new teammate, replacing Ocon.
Alpine’s new engine partnership with Mercedes marks a fresh chapter for the team as they strive to return to F1’s top tier. For fans, the switch also signals the end of an era for Renault as an F1 engine supplier, bringing its illustrious history to a close and opening the door for a new chapter with Mercedes power.