Alpine’s Engine Woes: F1 Team’s 0.2s Deficit Spurs Shift to Mercedes Power in 2026

Unveiled: The statistics highlighting Alpine's F1 engine shortfall as they consider customer alternatives

"Currently, however, we are trailing by 10 to 15 kilowatts. On average, the power unit accounts for about two-tenths of a second per lap."

Former Alpine Formula 1 team leader Bruno Famin has disclosed that the team is losing about 0.2 seconds per lap because their Renault engine is not performing up to par.

At the Belgian Grand Prix, Famin revealed that he would be resigning from his role as the head of the Alpine F1 team, paving the way for Oliver Oakes to become a part of the team.

The announcement followed Alpine's choice to discontinue their engine project at Viry and transition to being a customer team.

Alpine has faced challenges in taking advantage of their manufacturer status, falling behind in the rankings in 2024.

Consequently, Alpine is exploring customer partnerships, with Mercedes being the most probable choice.

In an interview on the Beyond the Grid podcast, Famin admitted that the choice to halt the engine project at Viry came as a “major surprise” to all involved.

“The major revelation occurred on Tuesday, the previous Tuesday, when we informed the Viry team about a plan to transition to a new power unit starting in 2026,” he stated. “It was quite a surprise.”

According to Famin, Renault's engine lacks 10-15 kilowatts, which translates to a 0.2-second slower lap time, varying with the track.

"The engine we have at the moment is currently underperforming by about 15 kilowatts," he clarified. "I believe these are the numbers provided by the FIA."

"Renault completely overlooked the mark in 2014 when the new regulations were introduced, including the two hybrid systems – Renault entirely missed the boat."

"We are currently operating with 10 to 15 kilowatts less power. On average, this results in a loss of two-tenths of a second per lap."

Alpine holds the eighth position in the constructors’ championship with a total of 11 points.

The team has not yet finalized their drivers for the 2025 season, with Pierre Gasly being the only confirmed member.

According to reports, Jack Doohan is the leading candidate to team up with Gasly at Enstone after Esteban Ocon leaves.

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