ENSTONE, England — The struggling Alpine Formula 1 team is set to switch to Mercedes engines and gearboxes starting in 2026 following a decision by parent company Renault to discontinue its own F1 engine development.
Alpine announced on Tuesday that Mercedes will provide its power units “for the duration of the new regulation era, from 2026 until at least 2030,” coinciding with new engine regulations coming into effect at the end of the upcoming season.
Despite the shift in engines, Alpine remains committed to strengthening its performance in the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
In September, the team revealed that Renault is transforming the facility at Viry-Chatillon, located near Paris, into a center focused mainly on different engineering projects, signaling a significant shift in focus away from F1.
Renault has a storied history in Formula 1 as an engine manufacturer, with its success dating back to the 1970s when it first introduced turbocharged engines.
Notably, Fernando Alonso achieved back-to-back drivers’ championships with Renault in 2005 and 2006, and the company has supported championship-winning teams such as Benetton, Williams, and Red Bull over the years. The last time a driver won a title with a Renault engine was in 2013 when Sebastian Vettel drove for Red Bull.
This announcement comes only nine days after Alpine celebrated a surprising double podium finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where Esteban Ocon finished in second place and Pierre Gasly came in third, with Max Verstappen of Red Bull taking the victory.
This success stands out in a generally disappointing season for Alpine, which had previously struggled to achieve better than a ninth-place finish in any race.
Following this recent podium performance, the team more than doubled its points total from the season in just one outing and is currently positioned sixth in the constructors’ championship with three races remaining.
Alpine is expected to continue using Renault power units throughout the 2025 season; during this period, Australian driver Jack Doohan will take over Ocon’s position alongside Gasly.