Alpine Formula 1 team principal Bruno Famin has given the first official details of the team’s plans to use a customer power unit from 2026, while also confirming that he will leave the role on August 31.
Renault intends to reallocate F1 resources at Viry-Chatillon to Alpine road car projects, assuming that the plans get approval amid discussions with the unions and the French authorities.
The team is expected to use a Mercedes PU in 2026, although no deal has been done, and Famin suggests that there is more than one option.
The team has not announced Famin’s replacement as team principal, although Hitech boss Oliver Oakes is tipped for the role, the Englishman having failed in a bid to gain an F1 entry in his own right.
“The latest is that we have presented a project,” said Famin. “In fact, the project is not the power unit. The project is much, much bigger than that. It’s a transformation project at the level of the Alpine brand.”
“The Alpine brand is developing as a huge project of development, with seven new models in the coming years, with high-end technology, very ambitious to build this new sporting brand, and to make it known outside of France, everywhere in the world.
“And then the project, which has been presented at the beginning of the week to the staff representative in Viry-Chatillon is to reallocate the resources from one side to another, one side being the development of the F1 power unit, which is being made in Viry, to dedicate those resources and skills to developing new technologies for the new products of the brand.
“And then one of the consequences of this project, if it’s accepted, would be then for Alpine F1 team to buy a power unit, instead of developing its own power unit. And then we’ll have more resources to develop the brand, and a different power unit to race for the F1 team.”
Famin noted that the plans had been presented to both F1 and the FIA, but it will take time for everything to be finalised.
“The project, which has been presented to the staff representative in Viry, and two different governance bodies, is talking about ’26 onwards on the power unit,” he said.
“We are talking to different PU manufacturers and for the time being. Of course nothing is done because, in France, with the unions, we have a social process very strict to follow, and we have to follow it very strictly.
“And we cannot take any decision until having reached the end of that of that process. For that I mean, we are talking to some PU manufacturer, but we cannot sign anything until this process is over.”
Asked to elaborate on how long it might take he said: “For the timeline, the timeline is what I said, we need to finish the social process in Viry.
“And it can take one week. It can take two months, and we need to finish that process and after I think the soonest will be the best for the team, because everybody in Enstone needs to know how to design and with what to design the 2026 car, for sure.”
Famin, who is approaching the normal retirement age for Renault staff, says his focus will switch from the F1 team to overseeing the future of the Viry facility and its staff.
“Considering the stake of the new project I was just mentioning about Viry I think it will be much more useful for the company to concentrate my time to the Viry activities,” he said.
“I mean all the other motorsport activities, and the transformation project, if it’s confirmed, because it will be a huge impact on all the Viry people.
“Let’s not forget that the guys in Viry are making an amazing job. We all know that since 2014 we don’t have the best engine in Viry. But it’s one of the engine which improved the most since 2014, and now we’re still not exactly at the top, but the improvement has been very good.
“And the job which is being done in Viry to prepare the 2026 engine is incredible. We fixed a very high target. I am confident that we can reach that target.
“The figures we have from the dyno are very good. All the people are very involved, very professional, very skilled. And it’s a very difficult situation there. And I think all the people, they are worth that we dedicate the necessary time to be with them.”
Famin indicated that he’s not leaving the team as a result of Flavio Briatore’s arrival in the Enstone camp.
“We have a new executive advisor, since some time,” he said. “I have no problem with Flavio, the little time we spent together. Absolutely no issue, no problem.
“Everybody knows him. He has his own way. He has his own goal. I have no problem, but I think it will be clearer on that side if I stepped down from the team principal role for Alpine F1 by the end of August, and be fully dedicated to the Viry activities from September 1.”
