Alpine engine exit labelled 'bad news' and 'a shame' for F1

RB, Ferrari and Stake team principals Laurent Mekies, Frederic Vasseur and Alessandro Alunni Bravi have reacted to the prospect of F1 losing Renault as an engine manufacturer from 2026.

In Friday's team principal's press conference at the Belgian Grand Prix, in addition to confirming he will step down from the team principal role himself, Alpine boss Bruno Famin explained the team plans to transition from a works outfit into a power unit customer when the new F1 engine rules come into effect.

Currently, there are four power unit manufacturers on the grid: Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda and Renault - although the French marque does not supply any competitors.

Originally, it appeared that number would increase to six in 2026, with Red Bull bringing power unit production in house and Audi taking over the Stake's Sauber entry as a works team. Honda will move to Aston Martin in a new partnership.

However, that could now be down to five. Whilst it has been widely speculated and reported on since June, Famin's power unit announcement came somewhat as a surprise - with the other team principals alongside him asked for their view.

I think it's always a bad news when you lose an OEM [original equipment manufacturer]," Mekies told media including RacingNews365.

"And of course, from what Bruno is saying, the OEM will stay as a team, but obviously, one of the big targets of these new regulations in 2026 was to attract more OEMs. So ultimately, if it goes as Bruno said, it means that we'll get plus one with Audi and minus one with Alpine.

"So I don't think it's a good news. However, it comes, luckily, at a time where there is many manufacturers in Formula 1. So I would say that the sport can well afford this change. But it's never a good news when we lose a PU [power unit] manufacturer."

Renault exit would be 'a shame'

Alongside Mekies, Vasseur and Alunni Bravi chose to focus on the human side of any potential fall out from Alpine's plans to transition away from power unit production.

"I'm more focused on the people of Renault," Vasseur contended. "I know very well the company that I spent years with them. I started my career in 1992 with Renault and I'm profoundly attached to Renault and I think it's a shame."

Famin himself acknowledged the "amazing job" done by those at Viry-Châtillon, where Alpine's Renault power unit is manufactured. 

"I fully agree with Fred, because I think in this moment that is, of course, critical, and I think we can share this feeling with Bruno, people are important and we need to be focused on them," Alunni Bravi added, before addressing the post-2026 power unit landscape more generally.

"Then for me, what I think is also maybe something to understand, it seems that this is a decision that is not linked, of course, to the new PU regulation or to the trajectory that Formula 1 is taking towards 2026. 

"I think that the PU regulations are very attractive for new manufacturers and of course Audi is the perfect example that thanks to this new regulation there is an interest from the automotive, to be in Formula 1 because it's the pillar of the technology and the best testing bench for the future mobility technical solutions. 

"So, I think that is something different from the decision from Renault. And I think as a Formula 1, we need to be clear on this - sometimes it can happen. 

"But now, as Fred said, [what] is important [is] the people. And I hope that the project that Bruno is developing will go forward because Bruno himself and the people at Viry-Châtillon that I also know personally deserve."