Alpine ready for ‘reality check’ with new F1 rules in 2026

alpineDavid Sanchez, executive technical director of Formula 1, has admitted that the team will have no excuse for moving into a new era of Formula 1 in 2026.

Since Renault Group purchased the Enstone-based outfit in late 2015, it has consistently set long-term targets of regular podiums and wins, but has achieved only nine top-three finishes in the last nine seasons, including esteban oconMemorable victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Alpine performance boosted in 2024 campaign; After a scoreless first Grand Prix, the team scored 14 points in the next 15 rounds, then 51 points in the final four (helped largely by its surprise double podium finish in Brazil).

The 2026 season will mark the beginning of a new era for the team, not only because of new technical regulations coming into effect in the World Championship, but also because Alpine is ending its long-standing F1 engine programme, Switching to Mercedes customer deal,

Sanchez acknowledged that this engine arrangement means the Alpine has no reason not to perform mclaren 2024 Constructors’ title won mercedes Customer.

“Now, whether you are a customer or a works team, the engines have to perform the same,” the Frenchman said in an interview with Autosport at the end of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “So it’s no longer a matter of (if) the work crew can get more out of the engine.

“Again, in terms of packaging and integration, all the engines are now very well packaged. And the way the aero rules are, there are some legality boxes that are deliberately so large that they won’t favor one PU manufacturer over another.

“So I think now, in terms of what engine you have in your car, you can be a customer team and be very good.”

Asked if there would be a reality check for 2026 Alpine, Sanchez simply replied: “Yes.”

He added: “When I look at how we are preparing ourselves for ’26, I don’t see any fundamental weaknesses that we will take into ’26 that will hold us back. So I think, ’26, we can intend to do a good job.

Development of next year’s car has been permitted since January 1, and teams are now faced with a balancing act in terms of resource allocation in the context of budget caps and aerodynamic testing restrictions.

Sanchez said Alpine has already decided how to handle the full transition from the 2025 project to the next one.

“You’re never 100% sure it won’t change based on the results,” he acknowledged. “We hope we’ll be able to stick to the strategy so we don’t have any surprises.”

As far as the 2025 pecking order is concerned, Sanchez acknowledged that any changes would depend on the extent to which teams prioritize their 2026 challengers, adding that he “can think of one”. Which is pushing for 2025.