Alpine F1 has set their sights higher in 2026

Friday at the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix showed just how much the expectations have changed for Alpine this season.

Last year, the Enstone-based team was mired at the back of the grid. Their 2025 challenger lagged behind their competitors, and while Pierre Gasly delivered some inspired performances to secure 22 points for the team, those were the only 22 points Alpine scored as they finished last in the Constructors’ Championship standings.

Alpine was also one of the first teams to completely shift their focus from improving their 2025 challenger, to developing their 2026 car in advance of the sweeping technical regulations that arrived for this season.

While you might have thought Gasly’s P10 in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix would be welcome news for the team, it is clear from what was said Friday in Shanghai that Alpine is looking for more.

“We are not happy at all,” began Flavio Briatore in the FIA Press Conference Friday.

“Our performance was very weak and was a combination of different factors, and we know what is the major problem we have in the car. We try to resolve this as quick as possible. But for the rest, it was the first race and for a long time we have no point in the race in Formula 1. At least we have one point with Pierre. It happened, it’s already passed, it’s impossible to change the result.”

Perhaps what Briatore saw later in the day will have him singing a different tune.

Gasly stormed into SQ3 during qualifying for the F1 Sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix, and when the checkered flag flew the Alpine driver was up in P7, one spot ahead of Max Verstappen on the grid.

While race officials are currently investigating a potential impeding incident between Gasly and Verstappen, where the Red Bull driver believes he was held up by Gasly at the hairpin at turn 14, for the moment Gasly is sitting seventh on the grid, a welcome result after Australia.

“I’m extremely pleased with today’s result in Sprint Qualifying, especially after last week in Melbourne which didn’t live up to our expectations,” said Gasly in the team’s media report. “We found a lot more performance and good learnings from Australia that we carried over into this weekend. We tried to put everything together and I felt a lot better in the car, straight from the first lap out of the garage. It’s good to be more competitive here and comfortably making it into SQ3 and mixing it with the top four teams.

“I’ve been feeling good in the car and there is certainly more potential than what we showed last time out. We will try to carry this positive momentum into tomorrow and see if we can bring home some points for the team.”

The team also shared this video following the qualifying session:

These comments from Briatore and Gasly reflect the new set of expecations at Alpine, following a disappointing 2025 season. Given how quickly Alpine turned the page to 2026 — and the fact that Alpine is now a customer team of Mercedes, running their power units in their 2026 challenger — Alpine has set their sights higher in 2026.

As Briatore noted during the FIA Press Conference on Friday.

“To finish in front of him [Jonathan Wheatley and Audi], if it is possible,“ said Briatore when asked about Alpine’s goals for 2026. ”Close to him [Laurent Mekies and Red Bull], if it’s possible! This is what we’re looking for. We’re looking to be P7, P8, P6, this range, this range of the competition we have.

“We have the top four teams, including Laurent, they are very, very strong, and after that is all the rest. So fighting to be in front of all the rest.”

Friday in Shanghai showed that Alpine’s goals for 2026 might not be out of reach.