Alpine has made a surprising decision to switch from Renault power units to Mercedes for the upcoming 2026 season, due to changes in regulations. This move marks a significant change for the team, as they have experienced multiple key transitions during the ground-effect era. Notably, there have been two changes in team principal over the past two seasons, with the most recent addition joining in the middle of the 2024 season. Alongside these shifts, Alpine has ended its partnership with Renault and will now be a customer of Mercedes’ power units starting from 2026.
The decision has not been well-received by Renault employees, who have expressed their strong dissatisfaction. A union representative from the Viry-Châtillon site described the move as unexpected and unnecessary. The representative also hinted that the arrival of the new team principal may have played a role in the decision. The sudden switch has been seen as a betrayal by some, with Renault’s history of developing championship-winning engines being cited as a reason for their disappointment. The fact that Alpine did not even wait for the first test bench of the new regulation engines has added to the shock for the manufacturer.
Renault has been a long-standing participant in Formula 1, both as an engine provider and an independent team. However, with Alpine now no longer using Renault power units, there is a possibility that the French manufacturer may withdraw entirely from the sport. This move could have been influenced by Alpine’s lackluster performance in the 2024 season, which may have prompted the team to seek a new power unit partnership. Mercedes, being a successful power unit supplier, has secured collaborations with multiple teams and will need to demonstrate their best work on the new regulation engine to bring about a significant improvement in Alpine’s performance.
Photo by Alpine F1 Instagram
