The announcement of the Alpine-Mercedes deal sparked significant controversy among French fans, many of whom are unhappy with the agreement, believing that Renault has nothing to envy about the German manufacturer. Oliver Oakes, who became Alpine’s team principal in August 2024, revealed some behind-the-scenes details about the arrangement during the *Beyond the Grid* podcast.
As known, when Aston Martin confirmed its deal with Honda, Mercedes had an open slot. The French team did not hesitate to reach an agreement with the Germans, having lost faith in the power units produced at Viry-Chatillon. Oakes explained that while the decision was difficult, the advantages, especially from an economic standpoint, outweighed the challenges.
Furthermore, the French team will secure an engine that has so far lived up to expectations and helped McLaren, alongside Mercedes, reclaim a Constructors’ Championship that had been missing from Woking since 1998.
Oliver Oakes: “We acted in the team’s best interest”
Moving from the economic to the racing perspective, the British team principal did not shy away from stating that Alpine’s objective is to triumph in Formula 1. After years spent at the back of the grid, the time has come to try to bring the Enstone team back to the top, possibly emulating McLaren’s proven model.
“Times change, and we cannot rest on our laurels,” Oliver Oakes stated. “We must be honest and admit that the decision to become a customer team was made solely in the team’s best interest. I know it was a tough choice,” he said, referring to the Viry-Chatillon factory, which has been significantly limited in production but will fortunately continue to operate in the WEC.
“We’re not here just to participate. I think I was clear when I selfishly said that I want the best engine in the car. Ultimately, we’re here to race. I want to be at the front of the grid, not at the back. The decision was made to ensure Alpine had the best engine, one that would help the team climb the grid.”
Oliver Oakes is clear: the Mercedes engine is a guarantee
In recent seasons, the Renault power unit has proven insufficient, lacking horsepower and complicating the growth process of a team already struggling with internal consistency. Therefore, Alpine chose to take a pragmatic approach, opting for a deal with Mercedes despite uncertainties about the German power unit’s future performance.
Oakes explained that he joined the team after the deal had already been finalized and doesn’t know all the details of the negotiations. However, he is certain of one thing: he would have made the same choice for Mercedes engines.
“I don’t know all the details of the decision because it was made just before I joined,” Oakes explained. “But if I had to analyze it, I would probably say that history has shown that with every regulation change, they’ve been strong. Furthermore, a championship-winning team runs Mercedes engines.”
“Subsequently, it’s clear that, from a customer team’s perspective, Mercedes was the most obvious choice, especially since Aston Martin was leaving the Germans to join Honda. So, there was an open slot for us.”
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