Alpine’s 2026 Campaign Shows Progress Amid Mid-Season Momentum Challenges

Among teams that redirected resources toward 2026 or effectively ruled out 2025, Alpine stands out as having reaped the greatest rewards from that strategy. Equipped with Mercedes power units, the team launched the season strongly. However, their first half concludes with a modest B- grade, as they were overtaken by rivals ahead of the summer break, finishing in sixth place—five points behind Racing Bulls.

The Good

Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto found their perseverance during the difficult 2025 season rewarded when Alpine transitioned into a full Mercedes customer setup with a more competitive chassis. Despite a challenging opening round in Melbourne where execution faltered and the team struggled with power unit integration, the Enstone-based squad quickly gained traction and established dominance within the midfield pack.

The A526 consistently qualified for Q3 sessions, particularly under Gasly’s guidance, allowing Alpine to score points at each of the opening seven race weekends. This momentum peaked with a dramatic podium finish for Gasly in Monaco, originally revoked due to time penalty infractions but eventually reinstated following a successful appeal.

Gasly has maintained his strong performance trajectory begun in 2025—an effort often overshadowed by the struggles of the previous car. Additionally, Colapinto has shown marked improvement, gaining confidence and becoming a more reliable competitor in midfield battles, alleviating concerns about his long-term viability in Formula 1.

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Photo by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

The Bad

Similar to Haas, Alpine opened the season with promising pace but has since struggled to keep up with evolving demands across the midfield. Their claim as “best of the rest” slipped behind an increasingly consistent Racing Bulls squad, which continues accumulating points and recently edged past Alpine in the constructors’ championship during the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Additionally, Audi has demonstrated significant progress, narrowing gaps throughout the season. After showcasing frequent Q3 appearances early on, Alpine faced difficulties securing even Q2 entries in Hungary—a clear indicator that they’ve fallen out of rhythm with development trends affecting overall aerodynamics and downforce levels.

With major upgrades anticipated post-summer break in Zandvoort, Alpine aims to close the gap and reassert itself ahead of the remaining races.

Flavio Briatore and Steve Nielsen, Alpine

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

What They’re Saying

Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor: “Racing Bulls scoring consistently with both cars again has pushed us down to sixth in the standings. We must acknowledge that they’ve executed better so far this season. We know new developments and upgrades are imminent, and we’re ready to deliver strides we’ve proven capable of achieving.”

“Let’s channel this reality as fuel at Enstone to drive change. Our recent form hasn’t met expectations, but we still have half a season left—and ultimately, only our final position counts.”

Source link