Put the horror season of 2025 behind them, install the Mercedes engine, and attack—why Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are optimistic despite finishing last.

Looking back, 2025 was a year to forget for Alpine. Early on, the team management decided to virtually halt development of the A525 in order to throw all resources into the radically new regulations for 2026. Alpine was caught cold by the fact that the competition continued to bring updates well into the fall. Added to this was the outgoing Renault engine, which simply lacked pure power. It was a double blow to the team’s morale.

But behind the scenes, away from the dismal results, something was growing together. Pierre Gasly, in particular, distinguished himself as a true leader during this difficult phase. Despite blunt weapons, the Frenchman took advantage of the few opportunities he had. In Bahrain, for example, he started from fourth place on the grid, and at Nico Hülkenberg’s first podium finish in Silverstone, the Frenchman finished sixth. He even managed to qualify for Q3 three times in the final stages of the season. “I scored the fewest points of my entire F1 career, but personally I feel I delivered a strong performance,” Gasly summed up at the end of the season. “Of course, that’s not satisfactory, so I’m just glad to put this year behind me.”

Stronger operationally thanks to a poor car?

The crisis forced the team to improve in other areas. Since the car was too slow, Alpine had to surpass itself operationally. “I’m happier than ever with our work and preparation,” Gasly explains surprisingly. “After three years, the team understands blindly what I need – whether it’s the setup or the mappings.”

The culture of dealing with mistakes in particular has changed. “We have a forum where we are completely honest with each other, but without pointing fingers. When you’re tenth, you can’t hide anything. That has helped us to remain objective. This year has definitely made us tougher and stronger as a team.”

The logic behind this is that if you don’t have the performance, you have to dig deep. “If you lack overall speed, you get lost in those tiny details that otherwise make little difference,” says the Frenchman. “We went to extremes with the mappings, the setup, and the analysis work at the factory. It was the best work I’ve ever done with this team.”

Colapinto: “You learn the most from the lows.”

The hope is clear: if Alpine puts a competitive chassis on the track in 2026, powered by the new Mercedes engine, these optimized processes will really come into their own. “We weren’t miles away, we were just at the wrong end of the midfield,” Gasly clarifies.

His teammate Franco Colapinto shares this view. The Argentine, who is entering his second year with Alpine, sees failure as an opportunity. “It’s quite simple: you learn the most from the low points. We had a lot of them, but that led to an enormous learning process.”

Colapinto was particularly impressed by the morale of the team. “I was surprised that they didn’t give up in the difficult moments. When things aren’t going well week after week, it’s damn hard to stay motivated. But that’s exactly what I saw. It will pay off as soon as the car is competitive again.”

Gasly just wants to win, no matter what

For Gasly, the start of the new era can’t come soon enough. With the Mercedes engine in the rear, he finally wants to get back to where he sees himself: at the top. Whether the new 2026 regulations will make for good racing or not is of no concern to the veteran driver.

“I hate the position I was in last season. I want to be at the front,” he makes clear. “Even if the racing isn’t the most entertaining. As long as we’re the best, I’ll accept that.” He points to legends such as Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, who have adapted to everything over the decades: from V8 naturally aspirated engines to the hybrid era and beyond.

“There are many factors, but if you ask me, I just want to be at the front. I’ve been in Formula 1 long enough, I’ve had podiums and a win. I know I can fight with the guys at the front.”

While the factory gates for the engine program have closed in Viry-Chatillon, France, Alpine now hopes that the Mercedes deal and the tough lessons learned in 2025 will finally open the door to success.