In a seismic shift for Formula 1, Alpine, Renault’s premium sportscar brand, has confirmed it will cease its F1 engine production in 2026, triggering a wave of discontent among staff and casting a shadow over the brand’s motorsport legacy. After months of speculation and internal resistance, the move to compete with Mercedes engines as a ‘customer team’ from 2026 was finally announced on Monday.
The decision has sent shockwaves through Alpine’s workforce, with employees voicing their frustration in a strongly-worded statement. They expressed “regret and deplore the decision to stop the F1 engine in 2026,” condemning management for failing to conduct a “serious study” to evaluate the potential impact on the brand’s future car sales and overall prestige. The staff’s outcry suggests a growing rift between management and the team responsible for Alpine’s rich history in F1.
A Move Toward a Customer Future: The End of an Era for Alpine
Alpine’s decision to stop producing its own engines will leave the brand dependent on Mercedes power units from 2026, a year that will see the introduction of a new engine era in Formula 1. These new power units will balance internal combustion with electric power in a 50/50 split, paired with active aerodynamic systems that are expected to revolutionize the sport.
This engine partnership with Mercedes comes as Alpine struggles to compete on the F1 grid, despite Renault’s illustrious past, which includes 12 Constructors’ Championships – a record only bettered by Ferrari. The Viry-Chatillon facility, once the heart of Renault’s F1 engine program, is set to be repurposed as a Hypertech engineering center focused on Alpine’s transition to an all-electric future. While an ‘F1 monitoring unit’ will remain, many fear this transformation marks the beginning of the end for Alpine’s engine-building expertise.
Staff Outrage and Concerns Over Alpine’s Future
Alpine’s employees have not taken the news lightly, and their statement underscores a deep mistrust in the company’s leadership. The decision has sparked fears of a talent exodus, with staff warning of a “major risk to the departure of critical skills” that have been integral to Alpine’s success in motorsport. The proposed budget and staffing levels for the remaining F1 operations have been deemed inadequate, further fueling concerns that Alpine’s potential return as an engine supplier could be jeopardized in the long term.
Moreover, the employee statement reflects a broader worry about the brand’s strategic direction. As Alpine shifts its focus toward electric vehicles, the question remains whether abandoning its F1 engine program will erode the prestige that Renault has built over decades in the sport.
Renault’s Glorious Past Overshadowed by Uncertain Future
Renault’s withdrawal from F1 engine production comes as a bitter pill for many who remember the manufacturer’s glory days. From powering its own team to back-to-back Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships in 2005 and 2006, to supplying engines for 12 Constructors’ titles across multiple teams, Renault’s legacy in F1 is deeply rooted in success. The brand’s reputation as a technological pioneer, particularly in the turbo and hybrid eras, now stands in stark contrast to its uncertain future in F1.
With Ferrari, Mercedes, Honda, Red Bull, and Audi confirmed as engine providers from 2026, Renault’s absence from that elite group is conspicuous. For a brand that has long prided itself on innovation and performance, becoming a customer team under Mercedes’ power feels like a dramatic step backward.
The Road Ahead: Can Alpine Rebuild Trust and Prestige?
As Formula 1 prepares for its next chapter in 2026, the departure of Alpine’s F1 engine program raises critical questions about the brand’s future competitiveness and identity. Will Alpine, with its electric ambitions and new strategic partnerships, be able to maintain the legacy Renault has built in the sport? Or will the loss of its in-house engine development mark the beginning of the brand’s decline in F1?
For now, the frustration among Alpine’s employees and the growing disconnect with management paints a picture of a team at a crossroads. As the sport enters a new technical era, the coming years will determine whether Alpine can regain the confidence of its workforce and fans or whether this decision signals the end of Renault’s reign as an F1 powerhouse.
