Alpine announces Mercedes F1 engine deal for 2026 and beyond

Alpine's controversial engine switch is finally confirmed as it will no longer produce its own Formula 1 power units

The Alpine Formula 1 team has officially confirmed it will switch to Mercedes power units from the 2026 season onwards.

Alpine's parent company Renault formally decided at the end of September to go through with plans to abandon its works engine programme in France's Viry-Chatillon, which had been working on developing brand-new power units for 2026's regulations overhaul.

It was widely understood that Renault chief Luca de Meo and his advisor Flavio Briatore had a deal lined up to become a Mercedes customer team instead, an arrangement which the team officially confirmed on Tuesday.

The team's statement also announced Alpine would be switching to Mercedes gearboxes, which will help smoothen the integration of the German marque's power units into the rear of Alpine's 2026 chassis.

It said: "BWT Alpine Formula One Team, Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains, and Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix have entered into Power Unit and Gearbox Agreements from the start of the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship.

"The multi-year agreement will see Mercedes-Benz supply the BWT Alpine Formula One Team with Power Units for the duration of the new regulation era, from 2026 until at least 2030.

"Alongside the Power Unit, BWT Alpine Formula One Team will also be supplied with Mercedes gearboxes from the 2026 season.

"The team remains focused on performing in the strongest way possible in the 2024 and 2025 seasons."

Thanks to a shock double podium at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Alpine vaulted from ninth to sixth in the constructors' championship after what had been a torrid 2024 campaign thus far for Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon.

Autosport understands Alpine intends to explore a return to producing its own gearboxes from 2027, rather than fully abandoning its transmission programme as part of a wider overhaul commissioned by its new management.

Alpine will effectively take over the supply line currently in place for Aston Martin, which will shift from Mercedes to Honda power units in 2026.

McLaren and Williams will also continue to be Mercedes partners in the new era, keeping the number of takers of the Brixworth plant's engines at four teams, including Mercedes' own works squad.

Speaking about the internal changes at the team's Enstone factory, Briatore told Sky Italia: "This year we have done a lot of cleaning up and we will continue to do so.

"We have just taken a real evolutionary step so as not to hinder the 2025 project, and the step we have taken is clearly in the direction of 2025."

Team principal Oliver Oakes added that the biggest changes at Alpine will take place ahead of next year and into 2026's crucial regulations reset.

"I think, at the moment, there's nothing that's going to change drastically between now and the end of the year," Oakes said. "I think the real journey is sort of how we go through these next phases.

"There's a lot of support there with Luca and Flavio, and actually, I think that's actually something I'm kind of quite excited about. I'm just realising it takes a lot of time. Nothing's as quick as you hope.

"You've got to have patience and also build trust, because this team has been through a lot for a few years. We need to make sure we make always the right steps forward."