FIA failed to keep Alpine’s $1 billion commitment over power unit shutdown
FIA single seater Technical Chief Nikolas Tombazis highlighted that Alpine's power unit shutdown will reduce its spending by $1 billion.
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Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly (images via IMAGO)
Renault’s Alpine F1 team is one of the four present power unit manufacturers on the grid. However, the Enstone-based squad will officially stop making its own power units from 2026. Now, FIA Chief Nikolas Tombazis has admitted that the sports governing body failed to convince the French giant to continue its engine program.
Alpine will switch to Mercedes power units with the start of the 2026 regulations. Crashgate mastermind Flavio Briatore‘s arrival to the French team is believed to have played a role in this decision. Tombazis pointed out that the power unit program costs manufacturers around $120 million per year, adding up to over $1 billion in the long run.
It is 120, 130, 140 million and taken over five years, it is approaching a billion.
Nikolas Tombazis said, as reported by RacingNews365
Nikolas Tombazis highlighted that the FIA could not coerce a manufacturer to make such a major financial commitment even if Alpine had registered as an engine manufacturer. 2026 will see Audi‘s arrival as a new engine supplier alongside Honda’s return with Aston Martin.
I don’t think the FIA would ever constrain an OEM to having a $1 billion investment because they’ve registered and paid a small registration fee.
Nikolas Tombazis added
FIA cannot force Alpine to make power units
The FIA single-seater chief highlighted that it is always possible that a manufacturer decides to pull out at any moment. The sport’s governing body wants OEMs to stay in the sport, but it cannot force anyone like Alpine to continue unwillingly.
It was always possible for anybody to pull out, and we want people to stay because they want to, not because we are forceful.
Nikolas Tombazis stated
Alpine hopes to save around $100 million every season by becoming a Mercedes customer team in 2026. This money could be used in the car development without putting a strain on Renault’s finances. Moreover, the French team will no longer face the power deficit it has faced in the past three seasons once it joins forces with the Silver Arrows.
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Armaan Agarwal
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