“In the best interest of the team”: Alpine Team Principal Oliver Oakes explains the background to the decision to switch to Mercedes engines from 2026
Alpine’s decision to switch to Mercedes engines from 2026 marks a significant strategic turning point for the team. Team Principal Oliver Oakes discusses the background to this change in an interview with the Beyond the Grid podcast and admits that it was an emotional and difficult decision.
The decision to discontinue the in-house engine program in Viry-Chatillon was accompanied by strikes and protests by the workforce. Viry has a long and proud tradition as the centerpiece of Renault’s factory program in Formula One.
Nevertheless, according to Oakes, it was necessary to abandon the program in order to focus on other strengths in the future. “Times change. You see with all kinds of sports teams, in different areas, that you can’t rest on your laurels,” emphasizes the Briton.
Alpine “not here to fill grid positions”
“The analysis was already done before I started and it was decided at board level that the choice to become a customer team was in the team’s best interests. I know it was a difficult decision.”
“I realize there is a lot of emotion involved,” Oakes continues, ‘because we are proud of being a factory team and we still have a year together next year. But this was also a big signal of where we want to go.’
That’s because Alpine doesn’t want to settle for just ‘filling the grid,’ but rather has ambitions to climb back up the standings.
“We’re not here just to play along. We want to move forward. And I just want the best engine in the back of the car. At the end of the day, we’re here to race. I want to be at the front of the grid, not at the back,” says Oakes, explaining the choice of Mercedes.
No guarantees, but pragmatic decision
However, the Alpine team principal admits that there is no guarantee that Mercedes will be as dominant in 2026, when new technical regulations come into force in Formula 1, as they were when the hybrid debuted in 2014.
Nevertheless, the decision was pragmatic, especially since Aston Martin is vacating its place as a Mercedes customer in favor of a factory partnership with Honda.
“Nothing in life is certain,” says Oakes. “But if you look at history, you can see that Mercedes has been strong with every rule change. And right now, a team with a Mercedes powertrain is fighting for the world championship. That gives us confidence that we are making the right decision.”
Oakes: Alpine can finally prove itself
Oakes adds that the switch to Mercedes powertrains also offers Alpine an opportunity to compare its own car designs with the frontrunners in Formula 1. In recent years, the team has had to work with less powerful engines than its competitors.
“The important thing about this is that it gives us the opportunity to measure ourselves,” says Oakes. ”At the moment, we’re not producing a perfect chassis or a perfect engine, and we’re being very honest and humble about that.”
“So we have to look ourselves in the mirror and work hard on the chassis, which is a challenge we should enjoy. Because, in my view, that’s why we come to work. We want to prove that we are good at our job and that we can build a good race car.”
