Good start to the season, but even higher ambitions for Pierre Gasly, who refuses to settle for an outsider role with Alpine F1 Team.
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With 15 points scored in the first three races of the 2026 F1 season, Alpine has firmly established itself in the heart of the midfield. A result that validates the team’s strategic choices, notably the sacrifice of the 2025 season to fully concentrate on the new 2026 regulations.
But despite this progress, the gap to the top teams remains real. McLaren and Ferrari are still operating in another dimension, even if Alpine is starting to glimpse an opportunity to get closer.
The Stated Goal
“It’s not something that will happen in a month. But I would like to see us, after the summer break, become more of a player in that group with McLaren and Ferrari,” explains Pierre Gasly.
“In Japan, there was a seven-second gap over 28 laps, which is about three to four tenths per lap. That’s what we need to work on. We know what we need to improve, and that’s already a good thing.”
A clear-headed, but ambitious discourse. The Frenchman is not yet talking about victories, but clearly about a tangible rapprochement with the best teams on the grid.
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A Mercedes Engine as a Solid Base
The switch to the Mercedes engine appears to be a major turning point. By eliminating a key variable, Alpine can now concentrate its efforts on aerodynamics and the overall operation of its single-seater.
“We know we don’t have to worry about the power unit. We have the best there is currently. We just need to focus on our chassis and what we’re doing. We have a good base, but we need to improve it,” continues Gasly.
The real test for Alpine will come after the summer break. By then, factory work and technical developments will have to reduce the gap to the leaders.
If Gasly achieves his goal, Alpine could well join the fight against McLaren and Ferrari. In a season where the hierarchy is still shifting, the timing of this progress could make all the difference.
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