Alpine F1 Team 2026

The BWT Alpine Formula One Team has experienced a dramatic resurgence at the start of the 2026 season, moving from a last-place finish in 2025 to currently outpacing Red Bull Racing in the championship standings. This turnaround is primarily attributed to a major strategic shift: Alpine ended its long-standing Renault "works" engine program to become a Mercedes customer team, a move that has already yielded significant performance gains.

2026 Team Lineup & Leadership

Race Drivers: Pierre Gasly (No. 10) continues as the team's leader, partnered by Franco Colapinto (No. 43), who was signed for a full-time seat after a rotating stint in 2025.

Leadership Structure: Following the resignation of Oliver Oakes in May 2025, the team adopted a unique leadership model. Flavio Briatore serves as the de facto Team Principal in his role as Executive Advisor, while Steve Nielsen acts as Managing Director to oversee day-to-day operations.

Technical Team: David Sanchez leads the technical department as Executive Technical Director, following Alpine's transition to a three-pillar technical structure.

Current Season Performance (2026)

The A526 chassis, paired with the Mercedes-Benz power unit, has proven highly competitive in the opening rounds:

Championship Standings: After three rounds (Australia, China, and Japan), Alpine is tied with Red Bull for 4th in the Constructors' Championship.

Driver Form: Pierre Gasly has scored points in every race so far—a career first—including a notable P6 finish in China where he qualified ahead of Max Verstappen.

Technical Edge: Analysts credit the car's speed to excellent tire management and a highly efficient rear wing update introduced at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Key Technical & Historical Transitions

Despite their recent success, the team faced some off-track challenges early in the year, including an open letter published to address "hateful" messages directed at Franco Colapinto.