Are Mercedes and Hitech on standby? Before answering the question, let’s proceed in order. For motorsport enthusiasts, the end of the program at the Viry-Chatillon technology hub at the conclusion of next season is truly a sad ending. Once again, the history of motorsport has been trampled in the name of financial sustainability. It’s somewhat similar to what happened to Alfa Romeo in the mid-1980s when FIAT took control of the historic company, effectively ending the manufacturer’s involvement in the top racing class.
The “do-it-yourself” constructor model is not suitable for entities that do not intend or are unable to support large investments in research, development, design, and production of an entire technical project in F1, from chassis to engine. Thus, it is not overly surprising that Aston Martin uses a Mercedes engine rather than a Honda. It’s merely the logical consequence of financial strategies aimed at optimizing performance and containing costs. Following this logic, Renault has chosen to close the investment tap in the power unit area due to the modest results achieved from 2014 to the present.
In 2020, the French announced the rebranding from Renault F1 Team to Alpine F1 Team as part of a strategy to relaunch the brand. What was decided last Monday clearly marks the failure of the French manufacturer’s F1 program. However, it should be noted that the French power unit has never been competitive at the highest levels since the hybrid-turbo revolution. The mere 13 victories achieved by the French engine from 2014 to today is a meager result compared to the investments made by the French automotive company.
F1, Mercedes takes Alpine, what hybrid “advantage” does it offer Renault?
Since the rumor began circulating that Alpine might turn to another power unit manufacturer from 2026 onwards, many have raised doubts about Renault’s long-term commitment to F1. Engine manufacturers have always considered the pinnacle of motorsport a fantastic “training ground” to test innovative solutions that can be transferred to their road cars. F1 also represents an incredible boost in terms of image. But it’s clear that the future Alpine-Mercedes partnership will not yield any image or technological returns for the French automotive giant, even in the face of possible successes.
The credit for any victories would be attributed to an independent team or “garagista,” as Enzo Ferrari disparagingly referred to teams that didn’t produce the entire car in-house. What if the end of the F1 program at Viry-Chatillon is just the first step in the gradual exit of the French group from the top category of motorsport? After all, who cares about an Alpine-branded car that has nothing to do with Renault’s know-how?
F1, is Hitech aiming to buy Alpine?
The sense surrounding the French F1 team Alpine is this: in the medium term, the team will completely change its skin. Many automotive entities are knocking on the door to enter the Circus, and Alpine could decide to exit by selling its assets, similar to what Sauber recently did with Audi. The supply of Mercedes engines could pave the way for the hypothesis of a satellite team to the one led by Toto Wolff, much like Racing Point and Williams were in the recent past.
The Grove team no longer intends to live in the shadow of the Silver Arrows, even while continuing to use the three-pointed star’s power units. This could bring Hitech’s candidacy back into the spotlight, having been rejected in the recent selection process for new teams interested in entering F1. Based on this theory, the appointment of Oliver Oakes as team principal of Alpine, while also being the owner of Hitech Grand Prix, seems more than just a clue. We just have to wait to see what happens because several paths are possible…
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