Formula 1 team ceases engine production, paving the way for Mercedes' new partnership from 2026

Formula 1 team Alpine formerly Renault has shut down its engine project and will become a customer team in 2026. Renault has been a Formula 1 engine supplier for many years. Red Bull and Renault engine partnership was very successful and they won 4 world titles together from 2010 to 2013.  

However, in recent years, Renault's engine has had many issues, and many teams, such as McLaren, Red Bull, and Alpha Tauri, have moved away from it. Renault changed their name to Alpine and Alpine cars are the only ones to use Renault-powered engines. 

Engine production will shut down

Alpine has two factories for its F1 Programme. The chassis division is in Enstone, UK and the Engine division is in Viry-Chatillon, France. Now engine production and research will stop in the Viry-Chatilon factory which was working since the 1970s. Now Post 2025 there will be no engine production. It will be transformed into ‘Hypertech Alpine’.The employees in Alpine started protests amid fear of losing their jobs if the engine production shut down. But Renault's CEO has given assurance that all the employees will be offered a new position in Hypertech operations.

Former Benetton boss Flavio Briatore is returning to Formula 1 as Alpine’s new executive advisor. Alpine is sitting ninth in the constructor's standings only ahead of Stake Kick Sauber F1.  The Renault engines used in Alpine cars are not producing enough power and pace. In 18 rounds so far they have managed to score only 13 points.

Red Bull was the first team to sack Renault’s engine after its boss Christian Horner felt Renault engines were letting down Red Bull from winning the races. Red Bull Moved from Renault engines to Honda engines. McLaren was also using Renault engines and then they moved to Mercedes. Now Alpine F1 team will also use Mercedes engines from 2026 as the new engine regulations kick in. 

In 2026 Formula 1 Red Bull will be using Ford-powered engines, Alpine and McLaren will be customers for Mercedes, Ferrari and Mercedes will use their own engines, Honda will supply Aston Martin F1 and Audi will be using their own engines.  

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