Alpine F1 Team Struggles with Underpowered Engine but Eyes Bright Future for 2026
Alpine F1 Team is facing a familiar challenge that continues to hinder their performance on the track. The team’s lackluster Power Unit remains a major headache, requiring both the team and drivers to make compromises. However, amidst the struggles, there is optimism brewing for a turnaround in 2026.
Technical director of Alpine, David Sanchez, openly acknowledged that Renault’s underpowered engine is a significant factor contributing to the team’s woes in their final season as an official F1 team. With only 19 points to their name, Alpine currently sits at the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship. Sanchez highlighted that the engine’s lack of power forces the team to dial back on aerodynamic support at certain tracks, leading to increased tire wear, as witnessed in Austria.
“In terms of hybrid efficiency and maximum combustion power, we are lagging behind our direct rivals,” Sanchez revealed to Auto Motor und Sport. “This means we have to run with less downforce at some tracks. As a result, there is increased tire wear, which was particularly extreme in Austria.”
The team had only planned one major upgrade for 2025, introduced in Barcelona, as Renault will cease to be their engine supplier post-2025. Alpine will transition to Mercedes engines as part of a deal brokered by Flavio Briatore. This shift comes amidst Renault’s broader financial crisis and the resignation of CEO Luca de Meo. With the focus now on maximizing their current package, Sanchez stated, “We committed to a plan before the season. It foresaw that we would only make one major upgrade in Barcelona this year. We still have a few small things planned. But now the focus is mainly on getting the most out of the existing package and delivering consistent performance.”
Looking ahead to 2026, when the team will start receiving Mercedes power units rumored to be the strongest at the dawn of the new era, Sanchez is optimistic about the progress made in aerodynamics. He expressed, “Currently, the collaboration (with Mercedes) is going very well. We have everything we need to develop next year’s car. We probably made the biggest leap forward in aerodynamics. That’s where I come from and where I feel comfortable. Next year’s car is a completely different machine in terms of character. But it remains an F1 car. Aerodynamic support and good balance remain important. The complexity arises from the connection with the energy management system. The interaction between aerodynamic efficiency, long straight mode, and energy management poses a complicated problem that is not easy to solve.”
Amidst the struggles with their current engine, Alpine F1 Team is gearing up for a promising future with Mercedes power in 2026, aiming to rise from the ashes and reclaim their competitive edge in the Formula 1 arena.
