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Famin confirms plan for Alpine: Team will stop developing their own engines

26 July at 14:45
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  • Matt Gretton
  • Editor-in-Chief

Bruno Famin has confirmed that Alpine intend to buy their own power units rather than develop their own. The Alpine team boss confirmed this in the paddock during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. 

In recent weeks, there has been speculation that Alpine have explored options of engine partnerships. But it is now official. The current team principal, who will step down from his role shortly, has confirmed Alpine plan to stop developing their own power units.

Why Alpine plan to buy a power unit

"The latest is that we have presented a project. In fact, the project is not the power unit. The project is much bigger than that. It's a transformation project at the level of the Alpine brand. The Alpine brand is developing, it has a huge project of development with seven new models in the coming years with high-end technology, very ambitious to build this new sporting brand and to make it known outside of France, everywhere in the world. Then the project which has been presented at the beginning of the week to the to the staff representative in Viry-Chatillon was to or is to reallocate the resources from one side to another side," Famin explained why the changes are being made.

"The development of the Formula One Power Unit, which is already being made in Veride, to dedicate those resources and skills to developing new technologies for the brand, for the new product of the brand. One of the consequences of this project, if it's accepted, would be for the Alpine F1 team to buy a power unit instead of developing their own power unit. Then we will have more resources to develop the brand and the different power units to race for the Formula 1 team," Famin explained.

Recently, Toto Wolff explained that Mercedes will once again be happy to supply their engines to more teams. They will lose Aston Martin, which has signed a deal with Honda for 2026. But Famin is yet to confirm any plans for Alpine.

"The project which has been presented to the staff representative in very on two different governance bodies is talking about 2026 onwards. We are talking to different PU manufacturers and for the time being nothing is done. We have to follow it very strictly. We cannot make any decisions until we have reached the end of that process," Famin added.