(Motorsport-Total.com) – Alpine went into the 2026 Formula 1 summer break in sixth place in the World Championship. Considering that the French finished the 2025 season in tenth and last place in the Constructors’ World Championship, this is actually an acceptable result.
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However, it is also a fact that Alpine was still regularly found at the top of the midfield at the start of the season. Recently, however, they have fallen behind Racing Bulls and also Audi in the pecking order. Both teams have made a leap forward with updates.
“At the beginning, apart from the first race, it was a very strong start in terms of pace, results, points scored, and execution. I think we can be quite satisfied with most races,” says Pierre Gasly.
However, the Frenchman also knows that the tide has turned somewhat in the last races before the summer break. Alpine scored at least one point in each of the first seven races of the season and even a podium in Monaco, but in the following four Grands Prix, they were twice without points.
Gasly admits: “We simply haven’t made enough progress [compared to the competition].” Therefore, it is now “crucial” to bring updates again in the coming weeks “if we want to keep hope for fifth place in the championship.”
Opponents have “improved by several seconds”
“It is important because Aston Martin improved by two seconds this weekend [in Hungary], they [in Zandvoort] will get a new engine, Racing Bulls improved by several seconds at the start of the year, and Audi as well,” says Gasly.
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“We are not doing badly at the moment, but we definitely need more performance – and that should come in the coming weeks,” he announces and explains: “It also doesn’t feel good in the car. The car doesn’t respond at all the way I want it to.”
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“It doesn’t let me drive the way I need, and there are quite a few things that need to be fixed,” says Gasly, emphasizing: “I think we know why that is, and we know what we need to improve. We have our development plan.”
Ultimately, the Alpine A526 has no major weaknesses, but it lacks “a bit everywhere,” he reports. Alpine CEO Steve Nielsen announces a “significant upgrade” for the first race after the summer break in Zandvoort in this context on Sky.
There will be “some pretty big new aerodynamic parts” for the car, he reveals. This should help Alpine catch up with Racing Bulls and also Audi again. In the World Championship, Racing Bulls (66 points) currently lead Alpine (61) by five points in the fight for P5.
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