Alpine’s Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore has revealed the reasons why the sports car manufacturer’s parent company Renault ended the in-house engine development.
Following months of speculation and a protest from Renault F1 employees at the Italian Grand Prix, Renault made the final decision regarding its presence at the pinnacle of motorsport in October, electing to leave the sport. The decision has left its sister company Alpine without a power unit from 2026.
Renault‘s decision marked the end of a long, impressive era for the French manufacturer. The French company’s sports car division Alpine then signed a contract with Mercedes which will involve taking a supply of their power unit and gearbox from the start of 2026.
The Enstone-based outfit will continue to manufacturer their own power units through the 2025 campaign before switching in 2026, when sweeping new power unit rules – that feature a greater focus on the battery and use of 100% sustainable fuels – will be introduced.
In an interview with Auto, Motor und Sport, Alpine’s Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore explained the reasons that prompted Renault to pull the plug on the engine project.
“The first step was to get rid of our own engine. This means we are saying goodbye to something that only costs us money but brings us nothing. In 2026, we will get the best engine and the best transmission in this business from Mercedes.
“We won’t win with our engine. It’s that simple. If we want to win, we have to give up the areas where we are not competitive. That’s one less problem to worry about in the future. Let’s concentrate on the car.”
Briatore stressed that the most important thing for an F1 team to pick out the best components which is shown by the success of the alliance between Mercedes and McLaren.
“McLaren becomes world champion with a Mercedes engine. How often have you read or heard that McLaren-Mercedes has become world champion? I never have. Haas is Haas and not Haas-Ferrari.”
“If you want to win, 80 to 90 percent of your components have to be the best,” concluded the Italian.
