Alpine set to take Works Suspension and Gearbox in Mercedes drivetrain deal

French manufacturer Alpine have been in talks with Mercedes-Benz for an Engine supplier deal which could begin as early as 2025. The deal is also set to include a Mercedes supplied gearbox and suspension components.

There are currently four engine constructors on the Formula One grid, with Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT) and Renault.

Mercedes Powertrains currently supply three customer teams, McLaren, Aston Martin and Williams. Along with this, Mercedes powertrains currently hold the most constructors points scored this season, with all four teams with a combined 652 points so far.

Aston Martin currently have a deal similar to what is rumored with Alpine, where the British team take the suspension, gearbox and engine from Mercedes.

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Why would Alpine drop their own engine?

Alpine are a sub-brand of Renault, known for making sports cars. Renault re-branded to Alpine in 2021 in an attempt to boost road car sales.

Renault’s current E-Tech RE24 V6 is seen only in the back of the Alpine, and is known to be down on power to the rest of the engines available on the grid. The last customer team to have a Renault powertrain was McLaren in 2020 before switching to Mercedes themselves.

**Pierre Gasly (FRA) Alpine F1 Team A524. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13, Hungarian Grand Prix, Sunday 21st July 2024. Budapest, Hungary. Photo credit: BWT Alpine F1 Tram**

Esteban Ocon’s triumphant win at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix is the only race win for Alpine-Renault in the last five seasons, and the only win in the V6 Turbo-Hybrid era for the French outfit since they returned in 2016.

Since the 2022 season, there has been a freeze on engine development. This freeze is set in place until 2026, where there is an even greater shake up in powertrain and aero useage.

What Alpine will gain by striking the deal early.

If this deal was to be made for the 2025 season onwards, it would give time for Alpine to prioritise their chassis development campaign, not only for 2025, but for the major aerodynamics shake up set for 2026.

Alpine are the only supplier on the grid to have no customer teams. Since this, it will save them significant revenue by purchasing another powertrain instead of developing their own.

Photo credit: BWT Alpine F1 Team

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