Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are looking ahead with fresh optimism as Alpine F1 prepares for a major transformation in the 2026 season. After a difficult 2025 marked by last place in the Constructors’ Championship, changes both within the team and across Formula 1 regulations have shifted Alpine’s focus toward a potential comeback.
Challenging Season Spurs New Focus at Alpine
Alpine endured a challenging journey throughout the 2025 Formula 1 campaign, finishing at the bottom of the Constructors’ standings. Both Franco Colapinto and Jack Doohan, whom Colapinto replaced, ended the season without a single point, making for a particularly tough year. Despite these setbacks, team morale has remained resilient, particularly as the organization sets its sights on the significant changes coming in 2026.
This renewed mindset is rooted in sweeping new F1 regulations set for the 2026 season, which impact both chassis design and engine technology. Anticipating these shifts, Alpine has already made a critical adjustment: the team will stop developing its own power units and will instead rely on Mercedes for engine supply moving forward. As a result, Alpine prioritized development resources for the 2026 project early, essentially writing off the 2025 campaign to invest in what they hope will be a more competitive future.
Reflecting on the tumultuous season, Pierre Gasly commented on his approach during the struggles of 2025:
“I’ve just tried to really take every single weekend one after another, without really having too many expectations,”
Gasly, Alpine F1 Driver.
He expanded on his ability to stay motivated through the team’s plans for the next era:
“What has helped me a lot is, it was a very long tunnel the whole season, but knowing what we’re doing for 2026 I’ve always had that sort of light.”
It is clear that this future-focused perspective became a beacon during a season short on tangible success.
Gasly added,
“I’m going be very happy to move away from that year.”
Gasly, Alpine F1 Driver.
Driver Optimism Fuels 2026 Ambitions
Alpine’s choice to keep Franco Colapinto alongside Gasly signals a vote of confidence in their current driver line-up, providing much-needed stability. Colapinto, who took over from Jack Doohan but was also unable to score, shares Gasly’s hopeful outlook for the team’s fortunes under the new technical rules.
Colapinto said towards the conclusion of the 2025 season,
“Next year’s car is going to be better than this year’s,”
Franco Colapinto, Alpine F1 Driver.
He noted the team’s progress with simulations and their positive attitude about the foundation for next year’s car, all while acknowledging that only track performance will confirm these hopes. Embodying the spirit of cautious optimism, Colapinto insisted,
“I’m sure it’s going to be better than this year’s!”
Franco Colapinto, Alpine F1 Driver.
Gasly, focused on what lies ahead rather than disappointments behind, summed up the tough strategic decision to redirect attention early:
“If it gives me better results next year, I literally do not care about this season—and it will be all worth it.”
He further stated,
“These couple of weeks or months can potentially give us a head start on some other teams and bring much better success, which is what we are seeking, ultimately.”
Gasly emphasized his endorsement of Alpine’s approach, remarking,
“So, yeah, fully backing the team in what we did. It’s a bit drastic, but sometimes to achieve greatness, you’ve got to make tough choices.”
Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Driver.
Awaiting the Impact of 2026 Formula 1 Regulations
The Formula 1 landscape is set for dramatic change with the introduction of the 2026 regulations, designed to promote more overtaking and level the competitive playing field. Alpine’s early pivot to development under this framework, paired with their customer engine agreement with Mercedes, could help the team return to respectability, if not outright contention.
Both Gasly and Colapinto, supported by Alpine’s leadership at Enstone, are bracing for the challenges and opportunities the new rules will bring. Key organizations and teams across the grid—including legacy names like Mercedes—are also reorganizing in anticipation, promising a potentially unpredictable season ahead.
As Alpine puts the struggles of 2025 firmly behind them, eyes will be on how quickly they, and the rest of the field, can adapt to the most significant technical shifts in recent F1 history. If the optimism of Gasly and Colapinto translates into on-track performance, Alpine F1’s 2026 season may mark the start of a compelling resurgence.
