Flavio Briatore is back at Alpine, but not without conditions. The Italian made it clear from the start: there would be no return, no project, and no compromise unless the team secured the Mercedes engine he demanded.
Flavio Briatore returned to Alpine with a firm idea and no room for doubt. There were no alternatives and no backup plans: if the team didn’t secure a deal to use Mercedes engines, he wouldn’t sign on to the project. The Italian explained it during the presentation of the 2026 car in Barcelona, where he revealed that it was his only condition for getting involved again with the Enstone organization.
The French team’s executive advisor said that when Luca de Meo suggested he return, he put a single requirement on the table and never changed it: “There was only one condition for me to join, which was to have a Mercedes-Benz engine. There was no Plan B, it was one plan only.”
Briatore, true to his blunt style, went even further and backed up his stance with a simple argument: if Alpine wanted to fight for serious results, they needed a top-tier technical foundation. “I wanted a Mercedes-Benz engine, period. There was only one way to come back, because right now you need to be with the best people,” he said.
The decision marks a major shift for Alpine, who will leave behind their historic in-house engine program in Viry-Châtillon. Starting in 2026, the team will not only run the German power unit, but will also use Mercedes gearboxes, creating a full package designed to cut the gap to the most competitive teams.
The move sparked controversy, especially because of its impact within Renault’s structure. Shutting down the engine project triggered protests among Viry employees, and for a while Briatore had tried to stay out of that decision. However, he has now been categorical and admitted it was a necessary step to compete seriously in today’s Formula 1.
Even though it’s still hard to predict how the new power units will perform under the 2026 regulations, Briatore understands Alpine won’t be able to hide behind external explanations anymore. Having the same engine as teams like Mercedes or McLaren also means greater exposure: if results don’t come, the problem can no longer be blamed on a lack of power.
In that context, Briatore explained that the engine deficit was one of the main reasons Alpine decided to stop aerodynamic development on the 2025 car early, accept a limited season, and focus all efforts on the next major regulation overhaul.
“If we had kept developing the 2025 car, maybe we wouldn’t have finished P10, but P9,” he said. And he emphasized the shift in the team’s mindset: “At least when I get to the race, I won’t be asking how many tenths we’re down anymore.”
At Alpine, Briatore has already set the tone: they now have the main tool, and with that, the excuses are over.