Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi is positive about the VW Group potentially joining with Audi and Porsche in 2026 but feels they shoudn’t be given special treatment.

Formula 1 could have new powertrain regulations for the 2026 season which might see the removal of the MGU-H and an increase in electrical output to 350kW.

Both German manufacturers are expected to use independent programmes with Porsche’s effort developed with Red Bull Powertrains. 

Rossi explained that the VW brands arrival is good for Formula 1 if it doesn’t hinder F1’s more established suppliers: “I think it’s nice, I think is good for the sport,” he told motorsport.com. “But we really need to pay attention to a couple of things, actually. We need to check and make sure that two separate teams are two separate teams.

“We need to make sure that if they’re entering the arena as teams, are they works teams, is it coming from Porsche, from Audi, is it coming from Red Bull or Honda? Do they have specific treatment or not? So basically, is the sport going to be better off, or is it going to be worse off?”

A new power unit budget cap is set to include an extra margin for new teams as they develop their power units over the next three years. 

Rossi stressed that favouring new teams would be the wrong direction for Formula 1 to go. He said: “Suddenly to favour new entrants, then incumbents suddenly get a bit of the wrong end of the stick.

“And I guess it’s the same concerns for most teams here, but especially for us as a works team, because we’ve invested literally billions over the past 20 years, 40 years, for Renault in PUs.

“It’s not for someone to come in and just like get the lion’s share just because they roll out on the red carpet. Because it’s basically disrupting our business model, and putting a lot of jobs at risk.”