F1 teams will sign new agreement that could prompt Alpine to sell despite Mercedes engine deal

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Alpine will race with Mercedes engines from 2026, the team officially confirmed on Tuesday. They’d already announced that they would be shutting down their Formula 1 engine operation.

In doing so, owners Renault have given up their works team status. But they hope to simultaneously reduce costs and become more competitive.

The consensus is that the Renault power unit is the slowest on the F1 grid. By contrast, Mercedes have the best reputation of all the engine suppliers after their dominance at the start of the turbo/hybrid era in 2014.

From 2026, the power units will be reprofiled, with a far larger and more potent battery at the expense of the MGU-H. They will also run on sustainable fuels.

Renault will continue to produce engines until the end of 2025, when employees at Viry will begin to focus on other motorsport projects. There will be job losses as a result.

Alpine surged up to sixth in the constructors’ standings after an extraordinary double podium at a sodden Interlagos last time out. They had picked up just 14 points in the first 20 races, leaving them second from bottom.

2026 F1 Concorde Agreement could lead to Alpine sale

As reported by Auto Motor und Sport, Alpine’s Mercedes deal has heightened suspicions that Renault CEO Luca de Meo and advisor Flavio Briatore plan to sell the team long-term. They have always denied this publicly.

The Enstone outfit are now much more attractive to potential buyers with a Mercedes agreement in place. Previously, they would have to take on the hugely expensive responsibility of building power units in-house.

Still, if there is to be a sale, no firm developments are expected until 2026. By that point, Formula 1 teams will have signed their new Concorde Agreement – the contract between the sport, the FIA and the teams.

• READ MORE: Everything we know about Alpine’s Mercedes power unit deal after scrapping their works engine division

It’s thought that the next agreement will ‘significantly raise the hurdles for future newcomers’. That in turn will make the existing teams more valuable.

Those wishing to enter F1 will recognise that the simplest route is to take over an established operation. The prospect of an 11th team could become increasingly remote.

Why Cadillac could buy Alpine if they decide to sell Formula 1 team

Who are the main candidates in this instance? Alpine could become Hitech-Mercedes if team principal Oliver Oakes, the founder of the junior formulae squad, brokers a deal.

But Andretti could also be interested. The US outfit were rebuffed in their efforts to join the grid in 2025 or 2026.

Acquiring Alpine could be a much more straightforward route. However, there’s optimism that Andretti will finally receive the green light after an anti-competition investigation by the US Congress.

Cadillac want to enter F1 in partnership with Andretti but they’ve also spoken to current teams. Alpine look like the most realistic target if they have to resort to a plan-b.