How F1's 'worst' team leapt into an unusual position

The worst team in Formula 1 last season has made such a massive leap forward this year it now sits in an unusual position: caught between the sport's typical class divide.

After finishing last in the 2025 championship—a result sealed early when Alpine shifted focus to the 2026 rules and ditched its Renault works status for a Mercedes customer deal—the team has already scored more points in four 2026 races than in all of last year.

Why it matters:

Alpine's gamble of writing off an entire season and forfeiting works team status was a 'triumph or disaster' bet. Early results suggest it's paying off, reshaping the midfield hierarchy and proving that a bold strategic pivot can reverse a team's fortunes.

The details:

• Qualifying averages show a clear 'Big Four' (Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull) ahead of an Alpine-headed midfield, with Cadillac and Aston Martin trailing. But excluding Australia, Alpine has established its own no-man's land—ahead of the midfield but behind the top teams.
• Miami was its most convincing weekend: Franco Colapinto had his best race, and both cars were clearly in the mix. Gasly was 26 seconds ahead of the next midfield car (Haas) in just 19 laps of the sprint.
• The turnaround stems from adopting Mercedes power units and a relentless upgrade push: a lighter chassis for Colapinto and a rear wing upgrade for Gasly arrived in Miami as carry-on luggage and were assembled in the garage.
• Managing director Steve Nielsen says: "It all starts with the car. The car starts improving, people believe in the projects."

What's next:

Alpine is still rebuilding—a David Sanchez-led technical team and a new Dynisma simulator should bring more gains. But progress won't be linear; rivals like Audi and Racing Bulls will bring upgrades in Canada.

The real question: Can Alpine hold its ground? Pierre Gasly wants to target the frontrunners, not look behind. "I'm more interested in the fight ahead," he says. If Alpine can annex the final Q3 spots and regularly lead 'Class B', that would be a huge achievement. On current evidence, it's not just a dream.