Colapinto Optimistic for Alpine's 2026 Push After Tough 2025

Franco Colapinto is expressing genuine optimism for the 2026 Formula 1 season, believing Alpine's A526 will be a significant step up from its difficult predecessor. The Argentine driver is particularly excited to experience his first full pre-season with a team, a stark contrast to his challenging mid-season debut in 2025, which he feels will be crucial for a more positive campaign.

Why it matters:

For a team like Alpine, which has endured several seasons in the doldrums, the 2026 regulations represent a critical opportunity to reset and re-establish itself as a competitive force. A strong start to the new era is vital not only for the team's morale and commercial standing but also for validating their strategic shift to Mercedes power units and providing Colapinto a fair chance to prove his talent on equal footing.

The details:

• A Proper Start: Colapinto will participate in pre-season testing for the first time in his F1 career, allowing him to build a foundation with the car and team from the ground up, a luxury he didn't have when joining mid-season in 2025.
• Car Confidence: The driver believes the new A526 has addressed the specific weaknesses of the uncompetitive A525. Alpine management confirms the new chassis has passed crash tests and is both lighter and stronger.
• Strategic Shift: Alpine stopped developing the 2025 car early to focus entirely on the new regulations and the integration of Mercedes power units, hoping this early focus provides an edge over rivals who split resources.
• Cautious Optimism: While confident, team leaders like Steve Nielsen acknowledge that the true test will be the stopwatch on track, tempering expectations despite positive progress at the factory.

What's next:

The new Alpine A526 is set to be revealed on January 23, ahead of pre-season testing in Barcelona and Bahrain. Colapinto will be heavily involved at the Enstone factory from the start of the year to maximize preparation. The team's progress, and whether their 2026-focused strategy has paid off, will finally be judged when the cars hit the track for the first time.