The Alpine Formula 1 team has formally confirmed that it will use Mercedes power units and gearboxes from 2026 until at least the end of the next set of regulations in 2030.
In effect the Enstone team is taking over the deals that will be abandoned by Aston Martin when it moves to Honda power.
It is also the final confirmation that 2025 will be the last year of Renault power in F1, with Viry’s 2026 project to be abandoned, despite protests from the facility’s staff.
The news comes as no surprised as Mercedes has always been the logical partner for the team since it became clear that it was considering the ending of Renault’s own F1 power unit programme at Viry as a shortcut to having a more competitive package.
However today’s announcement also officially confirms that Enstone will stop making its own gearboxes and use units from MGP in Brackley instead.
As such the team has opted not to join fellow Mercedes PU customer McLaren in continuing to make its own transmission, and instead followed the Aston Martin route.
Aston in contrast is setting up its own gearbox department in readiness for the Honda era.
Usually a transmission supply will mean that some rear suspension components are also carried over from the works car, but it’s not clear what will be included in the Alpine deal.
It’s not the first time that Enstone has dealt with HPP in Brixworth. In its Lotus days the team used Mercedes power for a single season in 2015. It took over the supply freed up when McLaren went to Honda, with Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado driving.
The team switched back to Renault power the following year as it became a works organisation once again.
In a short statement the team said: “BWT Alpine F1 Team, Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains, and Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix have entered into power unit and gearbox agreements from the start of the 2026 FIA F1 World Championship.
“The multi-year agreement will see Mercedes-Benz supply BWT Alpine F1 Team with power units for the duration of the new regulation era, from 2026 until at least 2030. Alongside the power unit, BWT Alpine F1 Team will also be supplied with Mercedes gearboxes from the 2026 season.
“The team remains focused on performing in the strongest way possible in the 2024 and 2025 seasons.”
