Alpine 'happy' to resume F1 engine talks with Andretti

Alpine has indicated that it would be happy to re-engage in serious talks with Andretti regarding the supply of Power Units if its Formula 1 bid is successful.

Andretti's F1 entry is currently under the consideration of Formula One Management after it passed the FIA's criteria to form an 11th team.

Previous discussions were held between Alpine and Andretti over an engine deal but the former explained last month that the pre-contract agreement has since expired.

F1's regulations state that should a team be left without an engine partner, the manufacturer with the fewest customer teams will be assigned to provide engines.

Alpine currently only supplies its works team while for 2026 when new Power Unit regulations come into play, while Audi will power its own squad and Honda will return to the grid in partnership with Aston Martin.

Andretti is set to arrive in F1 with General Motors and its Cadillac division, should its bid be accepted.

General Motors has already registered as a Power Unit supplier but would only enter in 2028, potentially up to three years after Andretti forms its team on the F1 grid.

Alpine Interim Team Principal Bruno Famin has stated that the situation was complicated by the time the FIA took to approve Andretti but is receptive to re-opening talks with the American outfit.

“We are talking to Andretti and to General Motors,” Famin told select media including RacingNews365. “We are happy to talk to them.

“If they have an entry we are happy to resume the talks. For the time being it's a bit on standby but not due to us.

“It's because the time and the length of the process is much longer than expected. First on the FIA side, the FIA took much more time to answer than they said they would at the beginning.

“The ball is on the Formula 1 side. If they have an entry we are happy to discuss with somebody.

“What I said last time is that we had a pre-contract. The pre-contract has expired.

“Factually right now we don't have any commitment or any legal commitment with them, but we're happy to talk to them and to see what we can do together.

“If they have an entry, it's because they will have demonstrated that they will bring you a lot of added value to Formula 1 and that the value of the championship on all the teams will not be diluted due to that.”