Christian Horner, former team principal of Red Bull Racing, is reportedly close to re-entering Formula 1 with Alpine as the 2026 season readies to begin at the Australian Grand Prix next weekend. Alpine’s improved prospects this year come after a disappointing 2025 campaign, where they finished last in the constructors’ championship, but have gained renewed hope following their switch to Mercedes power units for the upcoming season.
Despite optimism from observations during pre-season testing, some caution remains, given Alpine’s past struggles with car performance consistency. Their previous testing showed promise before the Bahrain Grand Prix, but their competitiveness was largely confined to that specific track, raising questions about whether those gains will hold across the full race calendar.
Alpine’s Ownership Changes and Horner’s Potential Minority Stake
There has been increasing speculation about changes within Alpine’s ownership structure, with Christian Horner linked to a possible minority takeover for some time. Journalists Nelson Valkenburg and Tim Hauraney discussed the situation on the Nailing the Apex Podcast, highlighting Alpine’s midfield battle against Haas this season.
Valkenburg expressed some uncertainty about the team’s stability, saying,
“How long before instability hits that team again? I don’t know.”
Yet he acknowledged driver Pierre Gasly’s consistency:
I think Gasly will bring it from week to week, though.
—Nelson Valkenburg, Journalist
Hauraney indicated that Horner’s arrival seems increasingly likely, pending whether the current owner, Otro Capital, is willing to sell:
“Well, I mean, there are rumours that Christian Horner’s coming in to buy them. And from things that I’ve heard, I mean, it sounds like that’s pretty much on its way.”
Valkenburg added insight into the potential benefits of Horner’s leadership:
The only thing is that may add stability from where they’re coming now is to have someone with something to prove, but also with something under his belt and who is not as rash as Flavio is. That could actually help the team quite well.
—Nelson Valkenburg, Journalist
Pressure on Franco Colapinto to Improve Amid Team Changes
Alpine rookie Franco Colapinto faces significant pressure to deliver better results after a points-free 2025 season. Flavio Briatore, known for his low tolerance for underperformance, has already made it clear that Colapinto’s position is at risk if improvements don’t happen quickly.
Journalist Julianne Cerasoli offered perspective on Colapinto’s development challenges, noting his rapid rise:
“He had most of last year to add to his experience. Let’s remember he did F3, and he did half of a season in F2. He went straight to F1.”
She also emphasized the young driver’s speed but inconsistency, saying:
He had the time to be consistent, and he will be under pressure from the first race because it’s very clear from Briatore that’s the way he’s going.
—Julianne Cerasoli, Journalist
Valkenburg believes that technical changes this year, including the adoption of the Mercedes gearbox, may help Colapinto’s performance:
“I think he will be helped by the change in regulation because his inconsistency was not helped by the on-and-off again nature of last year’s downforce.”
He added,
I think they will benefit massively from running the Mercedes gearbox. That was a problem last year, the gearbox situation at Alpine.
—Nelson Valkenburg, Journalist
Outlook for Alpine and Its Drivers at the Start of 2026
Alpine’s prospects for the opening race in Melbourne are cautiously optimistic, with the team tipped as potential podium contenders, a notable turnaround from last season’s struggles. If Colapinto can secure a strong finish, it may secure his place at Alpine for a longer period, easing the pressure he currently faces. However, breaking his run of finishing races without points remains an immediate necessity to maintain confidence within the team.
The possible acquisition of a stake by Christian Horner could signal a new period of stability and ambition for Alpine, which has been under ownership and performance uncertainty. His experience and track record offer Alpine a chance to rebuild and contend more robustly in the midfield battle, while providing drivers like Colapinto and Gasly a more secure environment in which to perform.
As the Australian Grand Prix nears, the Formula 1 community will be watching closely to see how these developments unfold and whether the anticipated changes translate into tangible improvements on the track for Alpine in 2026.
