Alpine Hopes Major Upgrade Can Re‑Ignite Its Formula 1 Season

Alpine entered the 2026 Formula 1 season believing it could close in on the front‑running pack, yet the team now finds itself sliding back into the midfield.

A second non‑score in four weekends in Hungary underlined how far performance has dipped, especially compared with early‑season highs when Pierre Gasly described progress as “a good step” after finishing seventh in Japan.

Alpine Disappointed With Formula 1 Slump

The contrast has become stark. Alpine was the fourth‑quickest car at Suzuka, but in Hungary it ranked seventh - more than 2% off the pace.

Gasly admitted the team’s current form is “not the reality I want to see”, adding that Alpine is repeatedly qualifying behind Racing Bulls and Audi and lacks the pace to fight them on Sundays.

The team’s downturn comes as its Formula 1 rivals make major gains.

Gasly said Racing Bulls “brought a lot of upgrades” that worked better than expected, while Alpine’s own update rate has been slower.

In recent rounds, Racing Bulls introduced 10 performance upgrades to Alpine’s six.

McLaren boss Andrea Stella even remarked that he had “never seen a development race like this one”, highlighting how quickly the competitive order can shift.

Alpine chose not to bring new parts to the Hungaroring, with racing director Dave Greenwood acknowledging the team is “slightly out of step” with others.

That makes the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix crucial, as Alpine prepares a significant upgrade package expected to address its inconsistent aero balance, poor traction and mid‑corner understeer.

Gasly believes the update is essential, saying: “It’s critical for us if we want to keep the hope for that fifth place in the championship.”

The team’s ambitions were set high after switching to Mercedes power and claiming a development head start.

Flavio Briatore said Alpine should be “fighting every race to be in the points”, but slipping behind Racing Bulls and Audi has raised pressure.

With half the season remaining, the Zandvoort upgrade will be a defining test of Alpine’s direction and whether it can regain momentum in 2026.