Pierre Gasly openly supports the optimism expressed by Alpine’s team principal Flavio Briatore about the new 2026 Formula 1 regulations but cautions that such significant changes introduce a high level of uncertainty regarding the future competitive order. Gasly emphasized that the true pecking order will reveal itself only on track, despite any predictions made through simulations or data analysis.
Alpine is preparing for a major transformation as the 2026 rules overhaul approaches, with Briatore forecasting promising prospects for the Enstone-based team. However, Gasly remains measured about these expectations, acknowledging that no simulator can reliably anticipate how teams will stack up once the new cars hit the track.
Briatore’s hopes for Alpine’s rise to title contender status within two years
At the recent Formula 1 event in Barcelona, Flavio Briatore spoke confidently about Alpine’s potential to challenge for championships in the near future, particularly targeting a breakthrough by 2027. He reflected on the team’s current performance as below his expectations but looked to the rule changes as a pivotal opportunity.
Drawing on historical examples, Briatore highlighted how teams like Red Bull, McLaren, Renault, and Benetton have undergone dramatic turnarounds in relatively short timeframes, moving from struggling positions to title-winning form. He said that Alpine aims to be competitive enough by 2026 to reach podiums regularly and that 2027 could see the team genuinely contend for the championship.
“When you are in Formula 1, you’re dreaming as well to do the job,” —Flavio Briatore, Alpine Team Principal
“A few years ago, Red Bull was dominating completely. Now McLaren is dominating completely. Everybody is working hard in this business.” —Flavio Briatore, Alpine Team Principal
Gasly’s cautious optimism amid challenges of closing performance gaps
During an interview in Montreal, Gasly confirmed he shares Briatore’s optimism “100%” but noted the current top tier of teams — McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes — are still firmly ahead of the midfield teams, including Alpine. Closing this gap will require sustained effort, especially given the extensive changes coming in 2026.
Gasly described the upcoming regulations as turning a “brand new page,” offering more significant opportunities and rewards for midfield teams to improve their positions. However, he stressed that only actual on-track testing will reveal where Alpine stands relative to rivals.
“At the moment, you’ve got the top four – McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes – they are just a step ahead of the midfield,” —Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 driver
“Things starting from a brand new page with these regulations, it just gives a much bigger opportunity and much bigger rewards for any team in the midfield.” —Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 driver
Gasly praised the dedication and motivation within Alpine’s factory team but reminded that the simulator can only provide a limited preview of the car’s competitiveness due to the scope of change involved.
“I think we are in good shape,” —Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 driver
“And really, it’s such a big change. Trying it in the simulator is such a massive change, we won’t know how we compare to the others once we get the car to the first test.” —Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 driver
Implications of Mercedes power unit switch and Alpine’s development challenges
A notable development for Alpine in 2026 is the switch from Renault to Mercedes engines, as Renault withdraws from being an F1 power unit supplier. Gasly acknowledged the confidence this change brings but warned that there is no guarantee Mercedes will provide the best engine package.
Despite this uncertainty, historical trends show Mercedes has typically supplied top-performing power units. Meanwhile, Alpine recognizes there is work to do on the chassis side, describing their current chassis as reasonable but with room for improvement.
“For sure, this is giving confidence,” —Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 driver
“In terms of chassis, we know we’ve got work to do. We have a chassis which is reasonable and pretty good. It doesn’t mean we can’t do better.” —Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 driver
Anticipation remains high despite unsettled team hierarchy ahead of 2026
As Alpine prepares for these pivotal regulatory and technical changes, the team’s management and drivers remain focused on development and testing to maximize their potential. The extensive transformations introduced by the 2026 regulations create a unique opportunity for teams to recalibrate, but also add layers of unknown variables that make predictions challenging.
How Alpine adapts to these changes, including the new Mercedes power unit and chassis refinements, will likely define the team’s trajectory over the coming seasons. The first on-track tests will provide the earliest insights into whether Alpine can fulfill Briatore’s vision of returning to title contention.
