Alpine Matches Red Bull in Shocking 2026 F1 Start

Three races into the 2026 Formula 1 season, Alpine finds itself level on points with the mighty Red Bull, a stunning reversal from 2025 where it was a clear backmarker. Pierre Gasly's seventh-place finish in Japan, ahead of Max Verstappen, brought both teams to 16 points, with Alpine ranked higher on countback, highlighting Red Bull's surprising struggles with its new car.

Why it matters:

This early-season parity signals a dramatic shift in the competitive order. Red Bull, a perennial title contender, is grappling with fundamental car issues that have its drivers openly frustrated, while Alpine's strategic gamble to sacrifice its 2025 season for an early focus on the 2026 regulations is paying immediate dividends. It raises questions about Red Bull's development direction and validates Alpine's long-term planning.

The details:

• Red Bull's Crisis: Both Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar have been vocal about the RB22's severe handling problems, with Verstappen calling it "undriveable" and "all over the place" in Japan. Hadjar went further, stating the car felt so bad it was "dangerous."
• Performance Deficit: The issue is not the new Red Bull Ford power unit, which drivers confirm is strong. Hadjar pinpointed the chassis as the core problem, bluntly stating, "The chassis side is terrible. We're just slow in the corners."
• Points Left on the Table: Red Bull's situation is compounded by reliability. Technical failures robbed Hadjar and Verstappen of likely points finishes in Melbourne and Shanghai, potentially costing the team around 16 points.
• Alpine's Consistency: In contrast, Pierre Gasly has maximized Alpine's A526, qualifying seventh in the last three sessions and scoring points in every Grand Prix (10th, 6th, 7th). His battle with Verstappen in Japan, where he held off the faster car due to battery deployment issues on the straights, was emblematic of the teams' current status.
• Wider Context: Red Bull's struggles have allowed other teams to leapfrog them; Haas was already ahead in the standings before Japan, thanks to Oliver Bearman's strong results.

What's next:

Red Bull is urgently seeking solutions, with upgrades planned and a crucial Pirelli test at Suzuka offering a chance for extra running and data collection. Hadjar even expressed hope for rain during the test to gain a comparative advantage. For Alpine, the challenge shifts from proving its concept to maintaining this momentum and developing the car further. If Red Bull cannot quickly diagnose and fix its chassis woes, what was expected to be a title defense could turn into a season-long battle for respectability, while Alpine eyes a return to the sport's upper midfield.