Alpine Fires Up Mercedes Power Unit, Marking New Era for 2026

Alpine has officially fired up its 2026 power unit for the first time, signaling the start of a new era for the Enstone-based squad. The sound of the Mercedes engine marks a significant shift away from their in-house Renault program and a crucial step in their attempt to recover from a winless and last-place 2025 season.

Why it matters:

This is more than just an engine starting; it's a fundamental reset for a team that hit rock bottom. After a disastrous 2025, Alpine is abandoning its works team status to become a Mercedes customer, banking on proven power to resolve its performance issues. The success of this high-stakes partnership will determine whether Alpine can return to the midfield and challenge for points or risk further decline in the new regulatory era.

The details:

• New Partnership: Alpine has switched from its in-house Renault power units to customer Mercedes units for the 2026 regulation reset. This move was confirmed over a year ago as Renault opted to cease its F1 engine construction project.
• 2025 Context: The team endured a miserable 2025 campaign, finishing at the bottom of the Constructors' Championship. This poor performance prompted an early strategic shift to focus entirely on development for the 2026 car.
• First Fire-Up: Alpine has released audio of the new Mercedes power unit running on the dyno, a key milestone that confirms progress is on track before the car hits the track.
• Upcoming Milestones: The team is set to conduct its official season launch, which will include the 2026 livery, on January 15. The car's first shakedown run is scheduled for the end of the month.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Alpine's launch on January 15 to see the complete 2026 package for the first time. The real test, however, will come during pre-season testing, where we'll see if the Mercedes power unit and the team's early development focus have translated into genuine, on-track performance. For a team that hit rock bottom, the 2026 season represents a critical opportunity for redemption.