Alpine have already made an incredible 2026 decision that was justified by the Japanese Grand Prix

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Alpine are in a much healthier position than they were this time 12 months ago, but have an identical points total.

Going into the 2024 season, Alpine’s car was overweight and rooted to the back of the grid.

David Croft heard worrying noises about Alpine’s car long before pre-season, but this year was supposed to be different.

Pierre Gasly ended last season as one of the most in-form drivers on the grid, and joined by plucky rookie Jack Doohan, hopes were high for the Anglo-French team.

However, the Australian has had two huge crashes in Australia and Japan, and despite Gasly’s best efforts, he’s yet to score a point in 2025.

This leaves Alpine with some difficult decisions to make, as Doohan fights for his F1 future amid pressure from Franco Colapinto and Paul Aron.

Flavio Briatore and Oliver Oakes will be frustrated by how the campaign has started, but the Japanese Grand Prix proves they’ve already nailed one call ahead of the 2026 season.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Alpine made perfect call with Mercedes power units after Japanese Grand Prix disappointment

There are a host of regulation changes coming in 2026, with Formula 1 expected to be dominated by whichever team has the best power unit.

Alpine will start using Mercedes engines from next season, and journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm, speaking on The Race F1 Podcast, has shared why the team’s fans should be so excited about abandoning their current Renault power unit.

He said: “There’s only one pointless team in F1 after three races and that is Alpine.

“It had the potential to score for the first time in 2025 at Suzuka, but a familiar old weakness let it down.

“Pierre Gasly was a clear top 10 threat in practice, but couldn’t quite make it into Q3.

“And after starting on the fringes in 11th, Gasly fell away from the points rather than challenged.

“It wasn’t a perfectly executed Grand Prix, but this track also highlighted the extent of the engine deficit that has long held Alpine back on certain circuits.

“In qualifying, at least a couple of tenths were being dropped on the straights thanks to a sheer lack of grunt, and in the race, the battery can’t be charged as well as rivals, so the deficit is bigger.

“At Suzuka, Alpine’s car was potentially the fifth-fastest in the corners, helped by some set-up changes based on learning how much it had struggled in China.

“But, its total package can be ruthlessly exposed in such a dense midfield, leaving Alpine rock bottom in the championship, despite everyone expecting it to be a midfield leader.”

READ MORE: Who is Alpine F1 team principal Oliver Oakes? Everything to know

Which power unit supplier is every team in Formula 1 using during the 2026 season?

Alpine aren’t the only team that will be using a new power unit supplier starting next season.

Red Bull and Racing Bulls will be running their own engines for the first time in their history, with the support of Honda.

Williams and McLaren will continue to use Mercedes power units alongside Alpine and the works Mercedes team.

Audi’s takeover of Sauber will be completed and they will also make their debut both as a constructor and an engine supplier.

New constructor Cadillac will be supplied with Ferrari’s engines starting from next year, joining Haas and the factory team in using their power units.

While Honda are no longer working with Red Bull, they’re preparing for the start of their exclusive partnership with Aston Martin.

It means Renault will no longer be associated with F1, which considering how their engine hampered Gasly and Doohan in Japan, is not a surprise.

Mercedes are expected to have the best engine for the upcoming rule change, which justifies Alpine’s difficult choice to drop Renault from next season.