Beware of ‘satellite teams”
Alpine under the leadership of Flavio Briatore has decided to disown the Renault power units produced at the Viry-Chatillon plant to focus on the ‘shortcut’ represented by the supply of engines from Mercedes, a strategy that allowed McLaren to win three of the last four titles contested in F1.
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2026 started positively for Alpine which with an excellent driver like Pierre Gasly has already collected 16 points, equal to Red Bull. The ‘French’ team is also in the sights of new potential investors now that Otro Capital has decided to sell its shares.
Johnny Herbert hopes that Alpine does not become a sort of ‘satellite team’ of Mercedes replicating what already happens with Racing Bulls and Red Bull: “There is a lot of talk about Mercedes and Alpine – Herbert told Vision4Sport – and I understand the advantages that can arise from having a ‘satellite’ team where, for example, young drivers from academy programs can grow. I still hope that Alpine does not become Mercedes’ Racing Bulls, having separate teams is important.”
