All on Alpine: Why F1’s French outfit is quietly confident ahead of 2026

Alpine enters the 2026 Formula 1 season in a tedious position. Last in the constructors’ standings in 2025 with 22 points was poor reading for a team that once headlined the midfield. However, the new regulations change and switch to the rumoured dominant Mercedes power engine has the team optimistic of a surge up the grid around Albert Park this weekend.

Alpine’s lead driver, Pierre Gasly, who scored all of their points last season, already feels more positive about his prospects in Australia compared to just 12 months ago.

“Last year was very tough and the entire season was long,” Gasly said, speaking to F1 Chronicle.

“Obviously we switched focus very early onto the 2026 cars, so there is definitely more expectation from it.

“I know we’re in a better place.”

 The other side of the garage features Argentinian driver Franco Colapinto, who competes in Melbourne for the first time as a Formula 1 driver. Colapinto replaced Australia’s own Jack Doohan after the Miami Grand Prix in 2025.

His confidence in 2026 stems from better preparation, both in the car and the understanding of what he could expect with brand new regulations being raced for the first time here in Melbourne.

“I do feel more ready, not having all those question marks and getting rid of all those things really helps,” Colapinto said to F1 Chronicle.

“I already feel a step more secure and have a better understanding of the car.”

This isn’t to say that Alpine are expecting to front the field this weekend. Pre-season testing in Bahrain exposed issues to all teams, including Alpine, and they’re being realistic that the top four teams look to have a clear edge over the rest of the field.

But myself, pundits and many fans are expecting the French team to take a big step towards the form of old and fronting the midfield.

Haas and Alpine are believed to be slightly ahead in the fight for best of the rest, but both car upgrades and track characteristics will play a large role in dictating who holds the upper hand from one weekend to the next. Gasly believes the advantage in the long-term can be found through successful upgrades, but that as much as Alpine are pushing, there are limits to what can be achieved in just the first season of a new rules era.

“I think you’ve got to be realistic and objective,” Gasly said.

“The top four last year are the same as this year, and it looks like the gap seems to have grown a bit. Which is something we need to reduce.

“It’s going to be a real race of development throughout all 24 races, and that’s where we’ll have to be better.

Colapinto explained that, unlike the cars from 2022 until last season, the management has been a handful to get on top of. So whilst the car Alpine has produced may be better, it is a big shift for the drivers to understand the increased management particularly of the electrical power that is demanded by the engines.

The Argentinian spoke in depth about clipping, the process in which the battery for electrical power is depleted causing the car to slow down, which is a big headache for the team. While he expects this to improve and the team to come up with solutions around a power-hungry track like Albert park this could cause problems for the team.

“These cars are very different, of course, you have to manage the traction and the sliding because you’re using the rear tyres much more,” he said.

“On the straight, we clip quite a lot at the end, so that’s something to manage, and there’s a lot of lap time in it. It’s a big factor to improve.”

Alpine do seem to be on the rise in 2026; time will tell if those signs result in points and climbing back up the constructors’ standings. For the first time, there does seem to be a sense of optimism amongst them. This weekend in Melbourne is their first real test if that optimism is justified.

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Written by

Oliver van Bronswijk

Oliver van Bronswijk is a Formula 1, Cricket and AFL journalist who has a large array of industry experience in Melbourne, Australia. He has delivered Formula 1 coverage both trackside and from afar, depicting the key issues in the world's fastest sport. Oliver also works as a 3AW Content Producer focused on AFL coverage working in the inner sanctum.

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