The Renault-owned Alpine team will use Mercedes engines in Formula 1 from the 2026 season. The deal, which follows the decision in September to end Renault’s own engine programme in 2025, runs until at least the end of 2030. Alpine will also use Mercedes-supplied gearboxes from 2026, although the team are exploring their options to design these in-house from 2027.
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Brazilian racer Gabriel Bortoleto will make his Formula 1 debut in 2025 after signing a multi-year deal with Sauber/Audi, with the team earlier confirming they were parting ways with Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu. Bortoleto fended off competition from incumbent and 10-time race winner Bottas to secure the seat alongside Nico Hulkenberg in an all-new line-up for the Hinwil-based team next season and in 2026 when the team become Audi’s works squad.
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Jonathan Wheatley is to leave his role as Red Bull sporting director to become Audi’s Formula 1 team principal. The 57-year-old Briton has been at Red Bull for 18 years and will stay until the end of this season. The move was initially announced by Red Bull to the surprise of Audi, which confirmed Wheatley’s appointment more than three hours later.
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Andreas Seidl has been removed as head of Audi’s Formula 1 project and replaced by former Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto. The decision to replace Seidl, after 19 months in the role of chief executive officer, comes amid concerns about the progress of the Sauber team that Audi has taken over as the basis for its F1 entry in 2026.
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Nico Hulkenberg will join the Sauber team for the 2025 season before their transformation into the factory Audi team in 2026. The 36-year-old German is the first driver to sign for Audi as they build up to their debut season in Formula 1. Their other prime target is Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz who is yet to sign for the 2025 season after he lost his seat at Ferrari to Lewis Hamilton.
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