Alpine's decision to take Mercedes' Formula 1 gearbox for 2026 will give it "headroom" to develop elsewhere for the next series of regulations before building its own in 2027.
Despite protestations from the personnel at the Renault Group's Viry-Chatillon powertrain headquarters, the decision was made to shutter the French manufacturer's 2026 engine project and assume a customer deal with Mercedes for the dawn of the new rules.
