Google can only do that if they can maintain grip on the market. This requires the likes of Samsung, who also contribyte to android, to move with them to their then propiatary solution. Google is not going to win this just with their Pixels.

Google closing android would ruffle a lot of feathers so it definitely wouldn't be a given they would come out of that on top.

Apple has no problem existing outside of Google's sphere of influence. And honestly if the android market would split and you'd get legitimately google-less phones with large app stores that google doesn't control that would be fairly beneficial if you ask me.