There’s a saying that goes, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” And it appears that the flames are burning at Alpine’s power unit facility in Viry-Châtillon, France. Rumors have been abuzz about the French Formula 1 constructor abandoning its engine program, and the company has indirectly confirmed it with the announcement of Hypertech Alpine.

Resources and manpower will be reallocated to create Hypertech Alpine, the brand’s state-of-the-art engineering center. Its projects include an upcoming supercar, solid-state battery technology, and motorsport programs for World Endurance Championship, Formula E, and Rally-Raid. There will also be an F1 monitoring unit, which will “maintain employees’ knowledge and skills in this sport and remain at the forefront of innovation for Hypertech Alpine’s various projects.”

Although the transformation is expected to be accomplished later this year, F1-related activities will still continue until the end of 2025—except for the development of a new engine. This means Alpine will no longer be running its own power unit come 2026.

“Creating this Hypertech Alpine center is key to Alpine’s development strategy and, more broadly, to the group’s innovation strategy,” said Alpine CEO Philippe Krief. “It is a turning point in the history of the Viry-Châtillon site, which will ensure the continuity of savoir faire and the inclusion of its rare skills in the group’s ambitious future while strengthening Alpine’s position as an innovation garage. Its racing DNA remains a cornerstone of the brand.”

As for who will provide power units to the Alpine F1 team in the future, people suspect that Mercedes-AMG is the most likely supplier.