Alpine sets timeline to discontinue use of Renault power unit: Reports

The 2025 F1 season is slated to be Alpine's final year using their in-house Renault Formula 1 engines from the Viry-Chatilon base. Beginning in 2026, under the new regulations, the French team will reportedly use Mercedes engines.

The turmoil within the Enstone-based team has been a long-standing one and the French team's recent wretched run of form further complicated things. Amid this, the report to discontinue their Viry-Chatillon base surfaced.

The Alpine F1 team currently has two bases. One is at Viry-Chatillon in France, and the other is in Enstone, United Kingdom. As per the recent statement, Alpine will have only one base from 2026, and the other one at Viry-Chatillon will be used for the Hypertech project.

Reporting this, the Race shared a statement on Alpine's stance.

"Formula 1 activities at Viry, excluding the development of a new engine, will continue until the end of the 2025 season," they wrote.

The Viry-Chatillon base has been designing and building engines for the French team since its entry to the elite form of motorsport back in the 1970s. This facility is widely credited for enabling Fernando Alonso to secure back-to-back F1 championships in 2005 and 2006.

While Alpine F1 had a glorious past, their recent performances have been disappointing, to say the least. The Flavio Briatore-led team is currently languishing in P9 of the Constructors' championship with 13 points after 18 races. Meanwhile, team driver Pierre Gasly is placed in P15 with eight points, and Esteban Ocon in P18 with five points.

---

Alpine F1 to redirect their F1 facility to the Hypertech project

As Alpine's F1 operation will be moved to Enstone from 2026 onwards, the French team has a plan for their Viry-Chatillon base. The French facility will be repurposed to support their Hypertech project, a venture in which they've been demonstrating exceptional performance in the World Endurance Championship.

Alpine CEO Philippe Krief recently shared how the Viry-Chatillon base can actively help their Hypertech project.

“It is a turning point in the history of the Viry-Chatillon site, which will ensure the continuity of a savoir-faire and the inclusion of its rare skills in the Group’s ambitious future while strengthening Alpine’s position as an ‘innovation garage’," he said.

“Its racing DNA remains a cornerstone of the brand. It will continue to fuel an unprecedented industrial and automotive project, thanks particularly to Hypertech Alpine,” he added.

Alpine has become a force to reckon with in the LMDh program of late, and their recent podium in the WEC was a testament to that. The Mick Schumacher-led brigade claimed a podium in the 2024 6 Hours of Fuji this September.