TOTO WOLF costumes are much richer for F1 competitors.
Mercedes was left without Lewis Hamilton during the 2025 season and was replaced by 17 -year -old Andrea Kimi Antonelli, but added 15 million pounds to banks in one year from a Formula 1 competitors can.
Alpine is set to abandon its own engines to become a customer team, ending months of speculation, and the move was also confirmed by Renault CEO Luca de Meo.
Renault has reportedly achieved good results in early tests while developing its engine for 2026, but de Meo felt it was necessary to take an “emotional” decision and abandon the F1 engine project at its French headquarters in Viry-Châtillon.
Alpine is expected to switch to Mercedes from 2026 when the new regulations come into force and pay the Silver Arrows directly rather than fund the production of its own powertrains.
In an interview with de Meo, French newspaper L’Equipe claimed Alpine would pay more than £15 million to use Mercedes engines, with managing director explaining that one of the reasons for the change was the availability of more key staff to work on the project under Toto Wolff’s direction.
They (Mercedes) have test benches that we don’t have. The move to the hybrid era required strong investments that were underestimated at the time.
Structurally, we run on three cylinders while others have eight,” DeMeo said. “When I arrived four years ago, the group was trying to stop F1. If it’s still there, it’s because I saved it. But we don’t have the structure to be at the forefront of battery chemistry, software management, energy recovery.
Renault confirmed last week that its Viry-Châtillon engine plant will be transformed into an “engineering center of excellence” by the end of the year.
“Following a consultation process with employee representatives, including constructive discussions and an independent evaluation, Alpine management confirmed its commitment to transform the facility into a center of excellence for engineering and technology “by the end of 2024,” the statement said.
F1 activities at Viry will continue until the end of the 2025 season, except for new engine development.
Alpine’s F1 operations are currently split between two factories in France and the UK, but moving its French engine core division to Mercedes will allow it to focus entirely elsewhere.
And Mercedes can repay the rates starting with £ 15 million. This can be used in various ways. Because Wolf wants to replace Hamilton with his teenager Antonelli and lead George Russell to a long -term contract against the background of interest. Red Bull.
