Alpine tackles the 2026 Formula 1 season with renewed optimism, while Executive Technical Director David Sanchez declares that the team has “no fundamental weakness” which could slow it down. After a transformative year of management changes and a major technical change, the Anglo-French team aims to return in force under the new regulations.
Radical changes draw the way for success for Alpine
The team underwent seismic restructuring over the past year. David Sanchez was recruited to direct the technical direction of Alpine in May, while Flavio Briatore, known for his successes with Renault, was appointed executive advisor in June. In August, Oliver Oakes took the reins as team director. However, the most significant decision was the choice of Alpine to abandon her Renault engine project in favor of becoming a Mercedes client team for 2026.
The CEO of the Renault group, Luca de Meo, and Briatore made the decision to rationalize the operations, judging the Renault sub-performative power units as an unnecessary expenditure. The transition to Mercedes power promises not only better performance, but also frees resources so that Alpine focuses on the development of her chassis and her aerodynamics. Briatore set ambitious objectives, declaring: “In 2026, we want to be on the podium in 50 % of all the races.”
Create momentum from the success of 2024
Alpine has already shown signs of promise. Under the direction of Sanchez, the team's car for 2024 experienced rapid development which propelled it from ninth to sixth place in the manufacturers' ranking during the last races of the season. This ascending trajectory, coupled with Alpine's decision to adopt Mercedes engines, positions the team to take advantage of the major regulatory changes of 2026, which include shorter, narrower and lighter cars with active aerodynamics.
“When I look at how we are preparing for 2026, I do not see any fundamental weakness that we would take in 2026 and which would brake us,” said Sanchez to Autosport. “So I think that in 2026, we can consider doing our job well.”
Mercedes engines: the key to competitiveness?
Alpine’s decision to become a Mercedes client team reflects a strategic change towards the exploitation of proven technologies. Sanchez minimized the historical advantage of factory teams, noting that modern engines are standardized in terms of performance and packaging. “Now, whether you are a client or factory team, engines must perform in the same way,” he said. “You can be a client team and be very good.”
-McLaren's victory in the manufacturers' championship in 2024, powered by Mercedes engines, underlines this point. Sanchez is convinced that Alpine can do the same, using financial savings from the engines agreement to optimize other areas of the car, thus guaranteeing competitiveness under new regulations.
Strategic planning for 2026 and beyond
With 2026 offering a unique opportunity for all teams to reset themselves under the new rules, Sanchez focuses on the balance between Alpine's current development and its future ambitions. “You are never 100% sure that this will not change according to the results,” he said about the team's development strategy. “We hope we can stick to the strategy, so as not to have surprises.”
The team's confidence is palpable, with Sanchez and Briatore committed to guarantee that Alpine is not content to compete with the best teams, but also becomes a regular podium pretender.
The daring vision of Alpine for 2026
Alpine's decision to adopt the power of Mercedes, associated with a rationalized and targeted organizational structure, signals a clear intention to recover as a force in Formula 1. while the team is preparing for seismic changes of 2026, His direction remains unshakable in his conviction that this overhaul will bear fruit. With a base built on strategic decisions and a promising technical direction, Alpine is determined to claim her place among the elite of F1.
