Few analysts have put Alpine at the centre of their focus in the build-up to the 2026 season. In a contrast from previous years, the Enstone team find themselves under the radar.
To some extent, this is thanks to a period of relative stability. Retaining Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto give Alpine some continuity on the driver front, while Flavio Briatore’s control over the team’s direction is also unchanged.
That aside, arguably the bigger reason why Alpine are being overlooked is – bluntly – their poor performance in 2025.
Finishing last in the constructors has dampened any excitement about the French team’s prospects this season. Despite this, there are reasons why Alpine should not be completely discounted.
Alpine commit early to 2026
Formula 1 is always unpredictable, and never more so than amidst a drastic regulation change like this one.
Williams failing to have their car ready for the Barcelona shakedown was early evidence that nobody is safe from committing potentially fatal blunders.
Speaking of Williams, the British team were widely seen as ones to watch over the winter break. Having finished 5th in last season’s Championship (despite directing all of last year’s resources into 2026 development), Williams were seen as dark horses.
Of course, their assembly delays with the FW48 – including failed crash tests – have changed this perception. More broadly, it highlight the real possibility for teams to spring a surprise – whether positive or negative – in 2026.
This is where Alpine come into the equation. Although finishing the 2025 season at the bottom of the standings was clearly disappointing, this finishing position should be contextualised.
Aware that contention for anything significant was unrealistic, Alpine committed to the 2026 regulations quite early. To be clear, they were not the only team to make this decision – with Williams being another notable example.
Still, whilst Alpine were less vocal about their decision, they prioritised 2026 very quickly.
By extension, Flavio Briatore revealed that he returned to Alpine under one very specific condition:
“With Luca de Meo [former Renault CEO], when we were talking about joining the team, only one condition for me to join the team was to have a Mercedes engine.
“It was not Plan B. There was only one plan. I wanted a Mercedes engine completely, it was the only way to come back.
“In this moment, you need to be with the best people, and the people of Mercedes, since we started working together… it’s a super, super relationship. This is what we’re looking for.” (cont. on next page)
