The Alpine Formula 1 team has signed a multi-year agreement with engine supplier Mercedes. From the 2026 season onwards, the Germans will supply engines and gearboxes to the French racing team. Previously, Alpine parted ways with parent company Renault’s engines, as the French car giant wants to convert the Viry-Châtillon factory into a hub for street car technology.
Alpine is joining forces with Mercedes! The news had been in the air for a while, but on Tuesday the team confirmed that a German power source will be installed in the Alpine cars in the future. With the introduction of the new engine regulations in 2026, the French racing team will swap the Renault drivetrain for that of Mercedes. The collaboration will run until at least 2030.
In an official press release, Alpine states that it remains focused on strong performances in the current season and in 2025, the last year with Renault engines. With the switch to Mercedes, Alpine expects to strengthen itself primarily in the future of the hybrid era. The new collaboration fits within the broader strategy of the sport, where teams and engine suppliers strategically collaborate to remain competitive.
‘The More Engines, The Better’
Mercedes is currently one of the largest engine suppliers in Formula 1. In addition to powering their own Silver Arrows, they also supply engines for McLaren, Aston Martin, and Williams. However, Aston Martin has signed an exclusive deal with Honda for 2026, freeing up a spot. In this regard, the collaboration with Alpine is only beneficial for Mercedes.
“The more engines in circulation, the better our development becomes,” Toto Wolff previously stated to Formula1.com. Moreover, McLaren has already proven this year that so-called customer teams are not inferior to their suppliers. The papayas still lead the constructors’ championship, while Mercedes remains stuck in fourth place.
