2025 is going to be a frustrating year for Alpine in many ways. The team decided early on to shift all its attention to the 2026 Formula 1 regulations, effectively abandoning development of the A525.
Alpine admitted it surprised some of its rivals that they continued to roll out upgrades even late in the season. This, coupled with the fact that the Renault engine still lacked a certain power, made the year challenging in two aspects: in terms of results, and also in the mental aspect associated with it.
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Behind the scenes, however, some developments are more positive than the last place in the manufacturers’ standings would suggest. First of all, Pierre Gasly’s performance deserves a mention. The Frenchman didn’t have enough material to shine, but he developed himself into a team leader and was able to capitalize on the rare opportunities that did arise – for example, his fourth starting spot in Bahrain, sixth at Silverstone and three third-quarter appearances in the final four rounds of 2025.
“I have the fewest points in my F1 career, but I personally feel that my performance was strong. It doesn’t really bring any satisfaction, so I’m happy to leave this year,” Gasly said at the end of last season.
While this sentiment is understandable given the outcome, it doesn’t tell the full story. Yes, Gasly and Alpine are hoping to survive a difficult year, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t lessons to be learned from 2025. This applies both to Gasly’s own development, as he attempts to grow outside of racing by keeping the team motivated, and to several collective steps taken by the Enstone team.
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Better operational capabilities due to a crappy car?
The latter is not on the horizon for 2025, but Alpine believes it could benefit if the car is more competitive this season.
“I’m most happy with the work we put in with the team and all the preparation,” Gasly explained. “Working with these guys, like putting the car in a good position with the map, the setup – obviously we’ve been working with the team for three years, so they have a good understanding of what I want.
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“We have a forum where we’re honest with each other but there’s no finger-pointing. We just honestly evaluate our performance. Obviously when you’re 10th, you can’t really hide things, and I think it almost helps us as a team be more objective about what we’re doing well and where we need to improve. I think, going forward, this season has definitely made us stronger as a team.”
Pierre Gasly, Alps
Pierre Gasly, Alps
When asked which areas will be most valuable in 2026, the Frenchman continued:
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“Communicating and recognizing where we need to improve, what we’re good at and how we can get better. I think we’ve tried to push all those things as far as we can within the constraints of this year’s package.”
In that sense, the poor car actually helped to some extent: due to the Alpine’s lack of outright pace, the team explored the handling limits more than before.
“When you lack an overall performance, you dig into these little details that don’t make much of a difference. I think we hit the nail on the head with the way we mapped and set up, the work we did in the factory, the number of debriefs we did and how in-depth we went into things. I have to say it was the best job I’ve done with the team.”
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It taught Alpine more than ever how to get the most out of its products. By 2025, that’s generally not enough to score points, but by 2026 – preferably with a better engine – that should change. Gasly added: “It’s not that we were far away from everyone; it was just that we were at the wrong end of the midfield. Yeah, that gives me a lot of confidence in terms of actually working as a team. If we get the car to a good place, I think we have the right process to actually execute it.”
Teammate Franco Colapinto shared the same sentiment: “I think it’s very simple: I think you learn the most from the lows. We’ve had a lot of lows this year, which has led to good learning and a good understanding of things.”
The Argentinian was pleasantly surprised that the team still sees positives in 2025.
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“Not giving up and keeping trying when times are tough, that’s one thing that really surprised me,” Colapinto said. “When things aren’t going well or going the way you expected, it’s hard to stay motivated and keep finding new things week after week.
Franco Colapinto, Alps
Franco Colapinto, Alps
“But I’ve seen it from the team. It’s very impressive and I think when the car is competitive it leads to a lot of good results. The team deserves it too and hopefully it comes soon.”
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Gasly, for his part, can’t wait for that moment. With the Mercedes engine and the lessons learned from last year, 2026 requires a step forward. Amid all the talk about the new rules and whether they will produce good racing, the Frenchman has made it clear that after eight seasons in F1, only one thing matters to him – winning. Entertainment value is secondary.
“I don’t like being in the position I was in last season, but I know I would enjoy being at the front of the field. Even if the race isn’t the most fun, we’ll still be the best of everyone driving these cars, right?” Gasly said.
“I’m sure everyone likes [Fernando] alonso or lewis [Hamilton] Suffice to say, the way they drove the car back in 2007 was very different than it was in 2014 when the new engine came out. Again, very different approach to 2021. So as a driver you always have to adapt to these regulatory changes.
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“There are a lot of factors to take into consideration, but if you ask me, I just want to be at the front of the field. I’ve been in F1 long enough that I’ve had a few podiums and I’ve won a race, but I know that from a competitive point of view I want to be alongside those guys that I see up front and I know I can fight them.”
Whether the material for 2026 will be good enough remains to be seen, but at the start of a new era in F1, Alpine is at least looking at things more positively than last year: it hopes to reap operational returns in the toughest season the team has ever faced.
Combined with the new engine, this should at least be a step forward in 2026. In Viry, some doors have been closed, but Alpine and Gasly hope the path to success will eventually open as a result.
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Also read:
First footage of Audi’s 2026 F1 car emerges from Barcelona testing
Exclusive: How this advanced new technology will monitor F1 2026 engines
F1 engine tips to be debated at special FIA meeting
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