Alpine Puts Brakes on Andretti Engine Deal Amid F1 Entry Uncertainty

Alpine’s preliminary engine deal with Andretti has come to a halt, as the pre-agreement has expired with no new contract in place. The future of this partnership now hinges on the formal approval of Andretti’s F1 entry by Formula One Management (FOM).

Key Takeaways:

• Alpine and Andretti’s initial pre-contract for engine partnerships expired due to a conditional F1 entry date not being met, necessitating fresh negotiations for any future deal.
• Although the pre-agreement is no longer active, Alpine has not ruled out future negotiations; however, these are on hold until FOM’s approval of Andretti’s F1 entry is confirmed.
• Delays in decisions could hinder the timeline to develop a customer engine project, potentially impacting Andretti’s preparedness for the 2025 season.

Alpine’s recent discontinuation of its preliminary engine deal with Andretti marks a significant turn in the latter’s journey towards establishing a foothold in Formula 1. The interim team principal of Alpine, Bruno Famin, confirmed the expiration of the initial pre-agreement, emphasizing the absence of a current contract between Alpine and Andretti. This development is pivotal as it reflects the intricate dynamics of team partnerships and the complexities of entering the F1 racing world.

Famin, in his interaction with Autosport, explicitly mentioned the conditions tied to the pre-agreement and its consequent expiration. “We had a pre-contract with Andretti, which has expired because they were supposed to be granted an F1 entry before a given date. So right now, we have absolutely no contract with Andretti,” he stated. This statement underscores the fluid nature of negotiations in the F1 arena and the dependency on external regulatory decisions.

The lapse of the pre-agreement necessitates new negotiations for any future engine partnership, but such discussions are contingent upon FOM’s decision regarding Andretti’s entry into Formula 1. This uncertainty casts a shadow on the timeline and feasibility of Andretti’s participation in the 2025 season, particularly in terms of engine development and overall preparedness.

Furthermore, Famin highlighted the non-impact of Andretti’s alliance with GM and Cadillac on Alpine’s willingness to engage in a short-term engine supply deal. However, he stressed the importance of timing, indicating that prolonged delays could jeopardize the readiness of engines for the 2025 season. “I’m not talking about [only] Andretti, but we start the supply of parts for the season a very long time before. But, for the time being, it’s even useless talking about that, because let’s see, we don’t have the starting point,” Famin explained.

In conclusion, while Alpine is open to supplying engines to Andretti, the company aligns with the broader F1 community in ensuring that any new team must add value to the championship. “What we don’t want is that an 11th team dilutes the value of our assets in the championship. Of course, if that will be the case, we will be against that,” Famin asserted, highlighting the balance between expansion and maintaining the integrity of the sport.