Alpine has pinned hope on the impending deal to use Mercedes engines in Formula 1 inspiring an upturn, an agreement that could provide an additional unexpected bonus.
Since the firing of Chief Executive Laurent Rossi in 2023, there has been a major managerial upheaval at Alpine, with senior figures going in and out like a revolving door.
In fact, it culminated in the controversial return of ex-boss Flavio Briatore, 16 years after receiving a lifetime ban from the sport due to his involvement in the ‘Crashgate’ scandal in 2008.
Uncertain prospects upstairs, coupled with disappointing results from the engine department in Viry-Chatillon over multiple seasons, have led to unease amongst the Alpine ranks.
This resulted in the announcement at the end of 2024 that Alpine would call time on Renault’s own engine programme after 2025,
taking on a partnership with Mercedes until at least 2030 to run the German marque’s power units, as well as the German marque’s gearboxes until at least 2027.
And with preliminary reports looking like Mercedes will have the best engine for 2026’s regulation reset, it looks like a good time to jump ship as F1 enters a new era.
However, Alpine might also receive an extra bonus from Mercedes should certain developments in the driver market result in Andrea Kimi Antonelli becoming available.
An end to the troubled Renault F1 project
The incoming partnership with Mercedes will see Alpine embark on a new chapter, one that will close the door on Renault’s esteemed stint as an engine manufacturer.
Despite being the supplier to Red Bull during a period of dominance between 2010 and 2014, the French marque’s V8 units were never regarded as the best in class.
On circuits when engine power was a priority, Renault-powered cars would tend to struggle, and that became more pronounced with the later switch to V6s in 2014.
High levels of reliability issues, too, would lead then Red Bull boss Christian Horner to publicly slam Renault, declaring the performance and reliability “unacceptable.”
Meanwhile, Adrian Newey began stepping back from his full-time technical role, disillusioned by the inability to compete with an engine that limited his design genius.
Renault continued as a works team when Red Bull opted to switch to Honda in 2010, but the investment has not returned a result better than fourth in the championship.
The call to shut down the engine department aligns with the decision to cut the team at Enstone from 1,150 to 850 in a move that Alpine hopes “will optimise the resources and put the team in a position to work efficiently and strategically, to quickly recover performance and compete again at the sharp end of the grid” once the regulations change next season.
An unexpected bonus from Mercedes deal?
But while Alpine will hope the agreement with Mercedes will deliver an improvement in competitiveness, it could also help the team solve its ongoing driver conundrum.
As rumours regarding a potential Max Verstappen to Mercedes have gained more and more traction in recent weeks, Antonelli’s prospects have been thrown into doubt.
The possible addition of Verstappen opens up the question about who could partner him: the established George Russell, or the man branded the “next Verstappen” in Antonelli?
However, Alpine will have no issue with Mercedes pursuing Verstappen if the outcome of it all means the Anglo-French marque might end up with the promising Italian.
In the circumstance where Verstappen is paired with Russell in an all-star line-up, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff would be eager to ensure Antonelli remains on the F1 grid.
With Alpine’s mid-season driver swap still to reap a tangible reward, the Enstone-based squad would be wise to be receptive to taking Antonelli, even on a loan agreement.
The fast-tracked rookie has already made his mark in F1, taking his first pole and podium already, while being well inside a competitive margin of one of the best drivers on the grid.
This, alongside a consistent midfield performer in Gasly, who has gone under the radar performance-wise in 2025, would bolster Alpine’s chances tenfold at moving up the order.
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