Alpine offers insight into potential 2026 customer engine deal

Alpine team boss Bruno Famin confirmed that a seismic shift in Alpine's powertrain strategy is on the horizon.

The Enstone-based outfit is actively exploring the possibility of severing ties with its parent company, Renault, as an engine supplier from the 2026 season onwards.

This radical departure from the current setup has been fueled by persistent underperformance of the Renault power unit compared to rivals and cost considerations just 18 months before the introduction of F1’s next-generation power units.

There’s a growing belief within the team that a customer engine deal with an established manufacturer could be the key to unlocking Alpine’s full potential.

Flavio Briatore, a seasoned F1 figure who recently returned to the team in an advisory role, is reportedly spearheading the team’s initiative, while speculation is rife that Mercedes, renowned for its dominant engine performance, is Alpine’s preferred choice as engine partner.

• Read also: Alpine F1 confirm Famin to step down from team principal role

As the team navigates this critical juncture, Famin has confirmed that those involved in Renault’s engine department at Viry-Châtillon have been informed of the potential change in direction.

“The Alpine brand is developing, has a huge project of development, we’re selling new models in the coming years with high-end technology, very ambitious to build this new sporting brand and to make it known outside of France, everywhere in the world,” Famin explained.

“The project which has been presented at the beginning of the week to the staff representative in Viry Châtillon is to reallocate the resources from one side to another, one side being the development of the Formula 1 power unit, which is being made in Viry, to dedicate those resources and skills to developing new technologies for the brand, for the new product of the brand.

“And then one of the consequences of this project, if it’s accepted, would be then for Alpine F1 team to buy a power unit instead of developing his own power unit.

“Then we’ll have more resources to develop the brand and the different power units to race for the Formula 1 team.”

The potential move away from Renault engines marks a significant gamble for Alpine. If successful, it could propel the team into contention for race wins and championships.

However, such a drastic change also carries risks, including the potential for integration challenges and reliance on another manufacturer.

Famin clarified that Alpine is not yet in a position to seal a deal with a potential engine supplier due to labor regulations in France.

“The project which has been presented to the staff representative in Viry and to different governance bodies is talking about 2026 all models on the power unit,” he said.

“Of course, we are talking to different manufacturers and for the time being, of course, nothing is done because, again, it’s a project we cannot, we have to follow in France, unions.

“We have a social process very strict to follow and we have to follow it very strictly and we cannot take any decision until having reached the end of that process.

“For the time being, we are talking to some manufacturers but we cannot sign anything until this process is over.”

Famin has dismissed concerns that Alpine will be at a disadvantage by becoming a customer team, having to adapt its chassis to a different engine design.

“There is a bit of potential in developing the integration, but it’s quite theoretical at the end of the story,” he said.

“All the manufacturers are working very closely in the project with the teams and all the integration is incredibly optimized.

“If we take a Ferrari or a Mercedes engine, I’m quite convinced that all the integration, all the packaging will be already very good.”

Alpine’s decision to explore a customer engine deal has raised eyebrows within the F1 paddock, with many speculating once again that it's a precursor to a full sale of the team.

Despite outright denials from the team, the move to relinquish control over such a core component of an F1 car is seen as an unusual step for a manufacturer.

One could argue that this decision, coupled with other strategic shifts within Alpine, suggests a broader plan to divest from Formula 1.

But Famin categorically denied that Alpine's pursuit of a customer engine partnership is a sign of the team being put up for sale.

“To answer your question, the Formula 1 project remains a key project for the Alpine brand,” he said.

“It’s thanks to Formula 1 that we want to develop the brand globally.

“The project is just reallocating the resources to develop the brand better, always based on the pillar of motorsport and mainly Formula 1.”

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