Alpine is set to close its Formula One engine production programme by the end of the 2025 season, with indications pointing towards a potential switch to Mercedes power units. The announcement came following Alpine’s decision to end engine production at their Viry-Chatillon facility near Paris, affecting over 300 employees. The facility will be transformed into a cutting-edge engineering centre known as ‘Hypertech.’
Alpine revealed that Formula One activities at the Viry-Chatillon site will continue until the conclusion of the 2025 season, except for the development of a new engine. Each affected employee will be offered a new position within Alpine Hypertech. Discussions are ongoing with Mercedes to potentially supply Alpine with engines starting from 2026.
Alpine, currently using Renault power units, is the sole team powered by Renault engines in the championship. The team’s chassis factory is located in Enstone, UK. Alpine also introduced the creation of an ‘F1 monitoring unit’ at Viry to ensure the retention of employees’ expertise and to drive innovation for upcoming projects at Hypertech Alpine.
In August, employees at Viry raised concerns about Renault possibly opting for Mercedes engines from 2026 in a bid to reduce costs by over $100 million. There have been rumours about Renault considering a team sale, however, former boss Flavio Briatore dismissed these claims. The move to establish the Hypertech Alpine centre aligns with Alpine’s overarching innovation strategy and aims to uphold the site’s expertise while bolstering Alpine’s identity as an ‘innovation garage.’
Alpine CEO Philippe Krief highlighted the significance of the new centre in shaping the brand’s future and reinforcing its position as a leader in innovation. McLaren, Williams, Aston Martin, and Mercedes’ factory team all currently use Mercedes engines in the Formula One championship. Aston Martin is slated to switch to Honda engines in 2026 when a new power unit is introduced, potentially creating an opening for a Mercedes customer.