Alpine Turns 2025 Struggles into 2026 Foundation with Mercedes Power

Alpine's 2025 season was a write-off on paper, with the team finishing last after shifting focus early to the 2026 regulations. However, the team believes the intense struggle forged a stronger operational unit and a more resilient mindset, which they aim to pair with a new Mercedes power unit for a significant step forward in the new era.

Why it matters:

For a team of Alpine's stature, a prolonged stay at the back of the grid is unsustainable. The 2026 regulation reset represents a critical opportunity to reset and rejoin the fight at the front. Successfully translating the hard-won operational gains from a disastrous season into on-track performance could define the team's future and validate the patience of its drivers and staff.

The details:

• 2025 Strategy: Alpine made a conscious decision to halt development of the A525 car early, accepting poor results in favor of a head start on the 2026 project.
• Gasly's Growth: Pierre Gasly evolved into a de facto team leader, fostering an honest, no-finger-pointing culture. He credits the season's hardships with forcing the team to be more objective and improve its processes, from factory work to on-track setup.
• Operational Deep Dive: The lack of raw pace forced the Enstone squad to explore the absolute limits of its car. The team went to "extreme" levels in optimizing mappings, setups, and debriefing procedures to maximize performance from an uncompetitive package.
• Team Resilience: Teammate Franco Colapinto noted that the team's refusal to give up during difficult moments was impressive and believes this collective character will yield results when the car is competitive.

What's next:

The 2026 season is the ultimate test for Alpine's new philosophy. The team hopes the combination of its refined operational strength and the potent Mercedes customer engine will propel it back into the midfield battle and beyond. For a motivated driver like Gasly, anything less than fighting for podiums will be a disappointment, as he is solely focused on returning to the front of the grid.