Pierre Gasly shares what he’s ‘hearing’ about Mercedes’ engine for the 2026 F1 regulations

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Pierre Gasly has thanked all of those who worked in Renault’s F1 engine department in Viry-Chatillon, with Alpine becoming a power unit customer of Mercedes from 2026.

The Renault Group decided in October 2024 to shut the brand’s factory F1 engine division in Viry-Chatillon at the end of the 2025 season, as it chose against developing a power unit for the 2026 rules. Renault had only supplied its factory team, Alpine, with engines since 2021.

Renault perennially struggled to master the previous ruleset, which frequently left Alpine at a disadvantage. The 2025 Renault F1 engine cost Alpine 0.4 seconds a lap, due to its inferior energy deployment and recovery systems compared to Mercedes, Ferrari and Honda’s units.

Alpine will now become a power unit customer of Mercedes under the 2026 F1 regulations. F1 is increasing the electrical share of the power from 20/80 up to 50/50, using sustainable fuels and removing the MGU-H to help reduce the costs and the complexity of the engines.

Pierre Gasly is hearing that Mercedes’ 2026 F1 regulations engine is in a ‘great place’

Alpine and Mercedes agreed on a customer F1 power unit supply from 2026 through 2030 in November 2024 in response to Renault shutting its engine division. Next year will be the first time that Gasly has raced with a Mercedes engine, and he is “very excited” to experience it.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about the 2026 F1 engine and aero regulations

Gasly has also heard that the 2026 Mercedes engine is in a “great place”, as Alpine begin to prepare their car for the next era with the Silver Arrows’ latest power unit. The 29-year-old also sees Alpine becoming a Mercedes engine customer and the 2026 rules as a fresh start.

“Now we open a new chapter with Mercedes,” he told the F1 website. “Obviously, looking at their CV, how many times they’ve been world champions, I’m sure it’s going to be a great adventure. I’m not going to lie, I’m very excited about it.

“From what I’m hearing, the engine is in a great place. So, I’m looking forward to that first test, and feeling what it’s like to have Merc horsepower on my back.”

Alpine must deliver with their car, as Mercedes’ 2026 engine is expected to be the best

Mercedes are widely expected to build the best 2026 F1 rules engine, which will also be the main performance differentiator due to how the increased electrical power output will have a major role in how races develop with drivers always having to manage their energy supply.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Alpine’s Mercedes F1 engine deal

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It is even now said that Ferrari think Mercedes have found a loophole in the 2026 F1 engine regulations that can let them increase the combustion rate from the permitted 16:1 to 18:1 during operation. The loophole could be worth as much as three-tenths of a second per lap.

F1 has reduced the rate of combustion allowed from 18:1 to 16:1 as part of the regulations starting in 2026. Yet there are suggestions that Mercedes would not be able to change their new engine to overcome any suspicions, which could leave them at risk of protests in 2026.

Should the new Mercedes engine indeed prove to be the best, and legal, design, then Alpine must deliver for Gasly and Franco Colapinto with their chassis and aerodynamic package for the new regulations. Alpine sacrificed 2025 to focus on their car for the 2026 F1 regulations.