The State of Play at Alpine After Three Rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 Season

Alpine have enjoyed a strong start to their 2026 Formula 1 campaign, sitting fifth in the Constructors’ Championship after three rounds, just two points behind fourth-placed Haas. This marks a significant improvement from their bottom-of-the-table finish in 2025, where they ended the season with only 22 points. The team’s resurgence comes amid their first season using Mercedes power units, a change that has contributed to their improved performance.

Pierre Gasly has been Alpine’s standout performer so far, scoring points in all three Grands Prix. He finished tenth in Australia after a disappointing Q2 exit, followed by sixth place in Shanghai and seventh at Suzuka. Gasly also reached Q3 in both China and Japan, demonstrating consistent qualifying pace. His ability to hold off a charging Max Verstappen for much of the last stint at Suzuka highlighted his racecraft, as the two former teammates battled wheel-to-wheel before Gasly emerged ahead.

Franco Colapinto has faced a steeper learning curve, starting further down the order and finding it more difficult to progress. However, he secured his first point for Alpine with a hard-fought tenth-place finish in China, where both cars finished in the points for the first time in a long while. Colapinto’s result was potentially even better, but contact with Esteban Ocon sent him into a spin, costing him a higher position.

Alpine’s early focus on 2026 development during the 2025 season has been cited as a key factor in their improvement. By prioritizing the new car’s development early, the team sacrificed competitiveness in 2025 to build a stronger foundation for the regulation changes. This approach received backing from Gasly, who urged the team to stop earlier on the 2025 car and begin work on the 2026 model.

After three rounds, Alpine have accumulated 16 points, placing them fifth in the standings and level on points with sixth-placed Red Bull. Haas remain just two points ahead in fourth. The team’s progress has been driven by both the power unit switch and their strategic development focus, allowing them to battle with frontrunners in the opening rounds despite their midfield ambitions.