Renault had already confirmed that it was shutting down its factory in Viry Chatillon and would focus its attention on other projects in motorsport.

The consensus is that Renault has the slowest power unit currently in F1, which can be clearly seen by Alpine’s dramatic drop in performance in 2024. The team was second bottom in the Constructors’ Championship after 20 Grands Prix, having collected just 16 points in it. time.

Alpine shot up to sixth at São Paulo Grand Prix after an incredible double podium, with Esteban Ocon finished second and Pierre Gasly third. The Enstone outfit are three points ahead of Haas and five ahead of RB with three races remaining.

Mercedes’ 2026 engine will be “very competitive” according to “whispers” around the paddock

Sao Paulo could well be a one-off for Alpine this season and indeed in 2025, with some debate over whether the team has made the right call by teaming up with Mercedes. According to the “whispers” heard by Nate Saunders, they may have.

READ MORE: Everything we know about Alpine’s deal with Mercedes engines after scrapping their engine division

The deal has been met with disapproval from Alpine staff, with several protests staged following the news that Renault would close their Viry factory. Flavio Briatore has ‘met resistance’ from the Enstone factory because some staff are not involved in the decision.

The idea seems to be to keep costs down and hopefully be competitive with Mercedes engines. According to Saunders via ESPN’s Unlapped podcast, it’s exactly what many expect the German manufacturers’ units to be, giving Alpine a much-needed boost.

“They (Alpine) have really gone through some tough times and that podium came at the perfect moment because there’s been a lot of doom and gloom around the team for a long, long time,” he said.

“Long-term, I don’t know if there’s a lot of optimism, but I think they’re turning a corner now. It’s going to be a long road back to being competitive, but that’s what it’s about.

“That’s what going to Mercedes is all about, and all the whispers I’ve heard is that everyone thinks that Mercedes will at least be very competitive under this new engine formula in 2026, so it’s not bad to put that in your car and if you have the best engine, good chance you can at least challenge for podiums.”

Could Alpine’s Mercedes deal lead to a possible sale?

Alpine’s transition to a customer team has put their future in some doubt, leading many to speculate that the team could sell to new investors or another entry.

Renault CEO Luca de Meo has repeatedly stressed that the team is not for sale, but they will be the most lucrative option for a prospective team to take over from 2026.

The new Concorde deal could make Alpine more valuable with its Mercedes business and that it will make it more challenging for newcomers to enter as a separate entity. Taking over the Enstone outfit may therefore be the best option instead of trying to become an 11th team online.

Andretti could be interested in a deal, with FOM beating back their bid to join the sport for 2025 and 2026. Alpine can become Hitech-Mercedes about their team manager Oliver Oakeswho founded the junior formal team, can organize a deal.

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