Alpine looks to start strong at F1 Australian Grand Prix

2025 was a difficult season for Alpine.

Could the 2026 Formula 1 campaign be better?

After a surprising rise up the standings to finish sixth in 2024, Alpine struggled a year ago, limping to a last-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship. The team turned the page quickly on the 2025 season, shifting their focus early in the year from upgrading their 2025 challenger, to developing their 2026 car.

Early returns, however, are rather positive. Alpine left the two public pre-season testing sessions in Bahrain as a favorite among the midfield teams, and a switch to the Mercedes power units looks to have given the team a boost heading into the new era of regulations.

Now, ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix both Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are striking a rather optimistic tone, a far cry from where the team was a year ago.

“I’m excited to be heading to Melbourne for the start of the new Formula One season and racing with the new regulations for the first time,” said the veteran Gasly in the team’s media preview of the Australian Grand Prix. “The cars are completely different to what we have had for my whole career and spending the pre-season figuring out how to get the most out of the new Power Units, active aero, Boost and Overtake modes has been an exciting challenge.

“We performed solidly in Barcelona and Bahrain over the previous month, and I am very proud of the team and all the hard work they’ve put in. I was back in Enstone last week on the Simulator and everyone has done an amazing job to get us in a good position to race in Australia.”

“I’m looking forward to getting on track in Melbourne and starting the new season of racing. This will be my third season in Formula One but is my first time ever preparing with Pre-Season Testing and competing in the first Grand Prix of the year. This has been helpful for me personally to understand these new cars as we aim to have a competitive season. We overall had positive tests in Barcelona and Bahrain and gathered a lot of important data which we have been analysing back in Enstone with some very busy days in the Simulator,” added Colapinto.

As for this week, both drivers believe the Albert Park circuit will offer an unpredictable test for the team, and the new generation of F1 cars.

“The Albert Park circuit is going to be a very interesting test for the new cars. The tracks we have driven so far have been very different to this one with medium-speed corners in Barcelona and heavy braking zones in Bahrain – a big difference to the flowing nature of this circuit, which is often unpredictable with the Melbourne weather,” continued Gasly. “There are a lot of factors we have to keep an eye on and be on top of as we drive competitively for the first time this year. Friday will be important to get the set-up right. Then we will see where we stand in Qualifying where I look forward to really pushing the car and executing some of the new skills we have had to learn. I can’t wait to see what Formula One in 2026 will be like.”

“Every session we learn even more and that will definitely be the case when we begin the practice sessions in Albert Park,” said Colapinto. “The circuit is very high-speed, I raced there in F2 and F3, and I’m expecting it to be a very interesting challenge for this new generation of Formula One cars. We will work hard on Friday to be in the best position possible for Qualifying and the race and I’m excited to push the car properly and see where we stand. It’s going to be a new way of racing for all of us and I’m keen to see how it all unfolds.”

Alpine placed a big bet last year when they shifted their focus to 2026 so early in the campaign.

It led to some struggles a year ago, but it could start paying off this weekend in Australia.