Alpine F1 Team Bids Emotional Farewell to Renault Partnership at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
In a dramatic turn of events at the Yas Marina Circuit, the Alpine F1 team is preparing to bid adieu to its long-standing partnership with Renault, marking the end of an era as the 2025 season reaches its climax this weekend. As the team languishes at the bottom of the constructors’ championship, with a disheartening 22 points—46 points behind the ninth-placed Sauber—this finale is not just a race; it’s a poignant farewell.
Pierre Gasly has been the lone bright spot for Alpine, single-handedly securing all of the team’s points. Meanwhile, fellow drivers Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto have struggled to find their footing, leaving fans to wonder what the future holds. The team recently confirmed that Colapinto will continue into the 2026 season, but the excitement is overshadowed by the imminent departure from Renault power units.
Starting in 2026, Alpine will shift gears and embrace a new partnership with Mercedes, a monumental change that will see Renault exit the F1 power unit arena for the first time since 1976. This seismic shift not only affects Alpine but sends ripples through the entire grid, as Renault has been a cornerstone in the sport, powering legendary teams like Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull.
To commemorate this historic moment, Alpine took to social media platform X, sharing a heartfelt tribute as team members signed the final Renault V6 Hybrid Power Unit. “Making a mark,” they proclaimed, as they highlighted the significance of the moment. The post read, “Members of the team signed the final V6 Hybrid Power Unit to leave Viry-Chatillon, ahead of our final race together, this weekend in Abu Dhabi.” This gesture encapsulates the nostalgia and bittersweet emotions surrounding the end of this partnership.
As the F1 landscape prepares for a shake-up, the power struggle is set to intensify. By 2026, the grid will feature five power unit suppliers: Red Bull’s own engines in collaboration with Ford, Ferrari supplying themselves, Haas, and Cadillac, and Mercedes expanding their client roster to three teams. Aston Martin will welcome Honda as their new provider, while Audi is poised to enter the fray both as a constructor and power unit supplier. Cadillac will initially rely on Ferrari power units for the 2026 and 2027 seasons before General Motors steps in to forge their own path in 2028.
As the lights go out in Abu Dhabi, fans will witness not just a race but a historic farewell, a moment that encapsulates the relentless evolution of Formula 1. The end of the Renault era for Alpine is a potent reminder of the ever-shifting dynamics in motorsport, leaving spectators eagerly anticipating what lies ahead. The stakes have never been higher, and the drama is sure to unfold on the track as we say goodbye to a chapter that has defined a generation in Formula 1 history.
