Amid doubts and speculation regarding the next season of Formula 1, a fact revealed during the Qatar Grand Prix sparked optimism for Franco Colapinto and Alpine: Mercedes would be the only supplier arriving on time with the development of its power unit.
The information gained relevance after Marcin Budkowski, former executive director of Alpine and current analyst on the Polish broadcast of Eleven Sports, questioned the preparedness of most of the other teams. According to his account, what was heard in the Losail paddock confirms a disparate scenario among manufacturers.
"Honda, which will be Aston Martin's supplier, is experiencing delays and might not make it to the Barcelona tests," the engineer stated. "Audi is also behind schedule. Ferrari is having issues with materials, mainly with the pistons, which forced a redesign of that part of the engine. Red Bull, partnered with Ford starting in 2026, is also facing difficulties. Only Mercedes seems to be on time and in shape for the new regulations without issues," he added.
