Alpine looking at Mercedes as a potential power unit supplier for the 2026 F1 season - Reports

The Alpine F1 team might reportedly race with Mercedes engines in their cars for the 2026 F1 season. There were various rumors that the French team might shut down their power unit operations for the F1 project and utilize the funds to build a better chassis.

The Enstone-based team has been struggling in the 2024 season. They are currently P8 in the Constructors' Championship with five points from nine races and two Sprints and have languished in the bottom half of the grid. Their engines have also been the weakest for quite a few years and they have not been able to compete with the rival power units of Mercedes, Ferrari, and Honda.

As reported by F1 Insider, Alpine has been negotiating a deal with Mercedes as their potential power unit supplier for the new engine regulations set to kick in from the 2026 season.

The German team is reportedly leading the race in terms of development and competitiveness of the 2026 power units and could welcome Alpine as a customer after Aston Martin to Honda. However, neither party involved has commented on any potential deals as of now.

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Pierre Gasly previews the Spanish GP weekend for Alpine

Pierre Gasly stated that he was satisfied with the progress made by Alpine in the last couple of races as they have scored points in Montreal and Monaco.

The French driver spoke about the challenges of Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya ahead of the Spanish GP and said (via PitPass):

"The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is probably the place where all of us current drivers have driven the most laps! It's always served as a good test track as there are long straights and a variety of corner combinations both high and low speed."

"There are many challenges to tackle in Barcelona so we will see how we go. We are keeping our heads down and working hard behind the scenes. It's the start of an intense triple header. We have scored at the last two races so we must strive to continue this momentum now. I'm looking forward to it!" he added.

Esteban Ocon echoed similar thoughts to his compatriot and added that he was looking forward to seeing where the team would end up:

"The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is familiar territory and a track we know inside out. It is a circuit that is regularly used for testing purposes, so I have probably driven this track more than any other," he said.

"The combination of fast, medium, and low-speed corners makes it the ultimate testing ground, particularly with aerodynamic efficiency. So, it will be interesting to see where we stack up this weekend."

Alpine is currently just two points behind Haas in the Constructors' Championship in their battle for P7.