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Alpine sets sights on 2026 F1 glory with bold overhaul and Mercedes power

Carl Smith by Carl Smith
January 26, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Szafnauer Speaks Out: Inside the Turmoil at Alpine F1 and His Abrupt Exit

BWT Alpine driver Esteban Ocon rounds turn 17 during the first F1 practice at Circuit of Americas on Friday Oct. 20, 2023 ahead of the Formula 1 Lenovo United States Grand Prix on Sunday.

Alpine is heading into the 2026 Formula 1 season with renewed optimism, as Executive Technical Director David Sanchez declares the team has “no fundamental weakness” that could hold it back. Following a transformative year of leadership changes and a major technical shift, the Anglo-French outfit is eyeing a return to prominence under the revamped regulations.


Sweeping changes set Alpine’s course for success

The team has undergone a seismic restructuring in the past year. David Sanchez was brought in to lead Alpine’s technical direction in May, while Flavio Briatore, known for his past successes with Renault, was appointed Executive Advisor in June. August saw Oliver Oakes take the helm as Team Principal. Perhaps the most significant decision, however, was Alpine’s move to abandon its Renault works engine project in favor of becoming a Mercedes customer team for 2026.

Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo and Briatore made the call to streamline operations, deeming the underperforming Renault power units an unnecessary expense. The switch to Mercedes power not only promises better performance but also frees up resources for Alpine to focus on its chassis and aerodynamic development. Briatore set ambitious targets, declaring, “In 2026, we want to be on the podium in 50 per cent of all races.”


Building momentum from 2024 success

Alpine has already shown promise. Under Sanchez’s leadership, the team’s 2024 car saw rapid development that propelled it from ninth to sixth in the Constructors’ standings over the final rounds of the season. This upward trajectory, coupled with Alpine’s decision to adopt Mercedes engines, positions the team to capitalize on the sweeping 2026 regulation changes, which include shorter, narrower, and lighter cars with active aerodynamics.

“When I look at how we are preparing ourselves for ’26, I don’t see any fundamental weakness which we would take into ’26 and which would hold us back,” Sanchez told Autosport. “So I think, ’26, we can intend to do a good job.”


Mercedes engines: the key to competitiveness?

Alpine’s decision to become a Mercedes customer team reflects a strategic shift toward leveraging proven technology. Sanchez downplayed the historical advantage of works teams, noting that modern engines are standardized in performance and packaging. “Now, whether you’re a customer or works team, the engines have to perform the same,” he explained. “You can be a customer team and be very good.”

McLaren’s Constructors’ Championship win in 2024, powered by Mercedes engines, underscores this point. Sanchez is confident Alpine can follow suit, using the financial savings from the engine deal to optimize other areas of the car, ensuring competitiveness under the new regulations.


Strategic planning for 2026 and beyond

With 2026 presenting a unique opportunity for all teams to reset under the new rules, Sanchez is focused on balancing Alpine’s current development with its future ambitions. “You’re never 100% sure it won’t change depending on results,” he said of the team’s development strategy. “We hope that we are going to be able to stick to the strategy, so that we don’t have any surprise.”

The team’s confidence is palpable, with Sanchez and Briatore committed to ensuring Alpine not only competes with the top teams but also becomes a consistent podium contender.


Alpine’s bold vision for 2026

Alpine’s decision to embrace Mercedes power, coupled with a streamlined and focused organizational structure, signals a clear intent to reestablish itself as a force in Formula 1. As the team prepares for the seismic changes of 2026, its leadership is unwavering in its belief that this overhaul will pay dividends. With a foundation built on strategic decisions and a promising technical direction, Alpine is determined to claim its place among F1’s elite.

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