Alpine are undergoing changes in several departments. The most obvious shift in 2025 will be their driver lineup. With Esteban Ocon leaving the team, Alpine are searching for someone to drive alongside Pierre Gasly in 2025. However, arguably, the bigger development at Bruno Famin’s team is they could switch engines in 2026.
For several years, a part of Alpine’s appeal has been its status as an engine manufacturer. Generally speaking, engine suppliers have more resources than their customers.
Moreover, being in charge of power unit production allows a team to control every aspect of their development and aerodynamic concept. Customer teams, meanwhile, have to work around the specifications given to them.
Because of this, Alpine’s apparent willingness to give up their Renault engines is somewhat concerning. On paper, abandoning their power units in 2026 would be giving away one of their biggest advantages
To many, this path seems like a backward step for Alpine. It can be interpreted as an admission that the Enstone-based team lacks faith in their capabilities.
Ferrari among Alpine’s options
Regardless of whether moving away from Renault engines is the correct decision, the French squad is seriously considering this path.
Negotiations with potential suppliers have already begun. When the 2026 engine regulations begin, several manufacturers will be involved: Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, RB/Ford, Audi, and (for now) Renault.
Red Bull has already ruled out supplying Alpine. Although there would be great irony in seeing Red Bull power their former engine supplier, the team acknowledges they are not ready to supply other teams.
The same applies to Audi, who will make their debut as engine manufacturers in 2026. This leaves three realistic options: Ferrari, Mercedes and Honda.
It is understood that Ferrari are one of the possibilities Alpine are exploring most enthusiastically.
The Maranello-based team are losing one of their customers, Sauber, in 2026. This gives Ferrari a space to fill. Having a customer team in F1 has benefits, meaning Ferrari could be open to this collaboration.
As Alpine negotiates with the likes of Carlos Sainz, perhaps a new model could make them a more attractive project.
Flavio Briatore is expected to make bold changes to the French outfit. While this approach could involve risks, aggressive changes could be necessary for the team to move forward.
