Alpine abandons the Renault engine in F1 for 2026
This announcement is like a bomb in Formula 1, but also in the French automotive industry: Alpine is ending the use of the Renault engine in F1. The team will no longer be a motorist and is now looking for a new supplier for 2026, with Mercedes at the top of the list.
Despite the protests of many employees regarding the potential closure of the famous Viry-Châtillon factory, the decision to abandon the Renault engine was confirmed today. This comes despite the unanimous vote of the Economic and Social Committee (ESC) opposing the discontinuation of Renault engine production in F1.
The end of an era
The history of the French engine manufacturer, founded in 1977, which has consistently been present on the F1 grids, with the exception of a brief eclipse between 1998 and 2000, ends on a very sad note.
Just a few years ago, the manufacturer was still providing engines to customer teams like Red Bull. Seeing the French engine saga come to a sudden stop is therefore inevitably a huge disappointment.
From now on, Alpine becomes a customer team and is looking for a supplier for 2026. Mercedes has been mentioned as a possible option several times, but no move has been confirmed yet. In addition to Alpine, the Silver Arrows already provide engines to Aston Martin, Williams and McLaren, but Lawrence Stroll’s team is expected to switch to Honda engines in 2026.
An opportunity as a customer therefore arises for Alpine, but it is up to Toto Wolff and the management of Mercedes to decide whether they want to supply the French team.
A complicated development since 2014
Since the beginning of the turbo-hybrid era in 2014, Renault has lagged behind its rivals with the 1.6-liter V6 engine. After winning four consecutive championships with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013, their new version started in 2014 with a reliability that did not fail to be criticized.
The Renault engine has not managed to reach the level of Ferrari or Mercedes and even that of Honda, which had a catastrophic start in F1 in 2015. Since the new regulations of 2022, the French engine lacks power and suffers from reliability issues, a constant presence for far too long.
It is because of all these problems that Renault’s management made the decision to abandon its engine for the rest of their F1 adventure. A difficult decision for Alpine employees to accept, but also for the French community that has supported the team since its beginnings. It is highly likely that this announcement will lead to a significant wave of departures among Alpine employees.
Opting for a Mercedes engine will cost Alpine less than developing its own engine, but it will inevitably cause discontent among the staff. It could also bring benefits in terms of performance. Only time will tell whether it was the right solution or not.
