Alpine F1 Team

CEO/Founder: Philippe Krief
Team Chief: Oliver Oakes
Technical Chief: David Sanchez
Sports Director: Joe Burnell

Chassis 2026: A526

Engine: Mercedes M17 E Performance
Tyre: Pirelli

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Reserve Driver: -

2026 Season

Alpine enters the 2026 season after finishing tenth in the 2025 Constructors' Championship with 22 points, a result that confirmed an extremely difficult campaign and left the team at the bottom of the standings. From a sporting perspective, however, the team looks different compared with the start of 2025: Pierre Gasly remains the cornerstone of the project, while Franco Colapinto completes the 2026 line-up after being promoted during the previous season to replace Jack Doohan. There have also been important changes at management level. Following Oliver Oakes' departure, Flavio Briatore has become the leading figure at the top of the organisation, while Steve Nielsen has joined as Managing Director and David Sanchez is responsible for the technical side of the project. After a difficult 2025, the objective for 2026 is therefore to use the new regulatory cycle as an opportunity to relaunch a team that has chosen to fundamentally rethink its structure.

Car

From a technical perspective, the A526 is an entirely new car and one of the clearest examples of the major regulatory reset introduced in 2026. Alpine has officially explained that the project has been developed around smaller dimensions, a weight reduction of around 30 kg, active aerodynamics with movable elements on both the front wing and rear wing, a greater contribution from electrical power and sustainable fuels. Above all, the A526 marks Alpine's switch to a Mercedes power unit, bringing the Renault engine era to an end. It represents a major change for Enstone, with the team entering the new regulations with a radically different technical package and a new partnership that also extends to the transmission.

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History

History of the Alpine F1 Team (1981-2025): from the Toleman legacy to the Mercedes revolution

The team now known as Alpine F1 Team represents one of the rare examples of technical and industrial continuity in Formula 1 history. With its chassis operation based in Enstone, United Kingdom, the organisation has competed for more than forty years under different ownership structures, serving as a platform for technical innovation and helping launch the careers of several legendary drivers. The team's DNA is closely tied to its ability to reinvent itself through the Toleman, Benetton, Renault and Lotus identities.

Toleman (1981-1985): the rise of Ayrton Senna

Toleman's entry into Formula 1 in 1981 marked the step up of a successful constructor from the junior categories to the highest level of motorsport. After several difficult early seasons, 1984 became a turning point with the debut of Ayrton Senna. The Brazilian claimed a legendary second place at the rain-shortened Monaco Grand Prix, demonstrating both his own potential and that of the British-built chassis. Despite Senna's outstanding performances, technical and financial limitations eventually led to the sale of the team to the Benetton family at the end of 1985.

The Benetton era (1986-2001): Michael Schumacher's championship years

Under the leadership of Flavio Briatore, Benetton transformed the Enstone operation into a genuine championship force. The switch from Ford engines to Renault power became a key technical factor in allowing Michael Schumacher to win two consecutive Drivers' Championships in 1994 and 1995, while the team also secured the 1995 Constructors' Championship. During this period, Benetton became known for innovative race strategies and a bold visual and marketing identity before being officially acquired by Renault in 2000.

Renault F1 Team (2002-2011): Alonso's titles and the Crashgate scandal

Renault's return as a full works manufacturer created an integrated operation between Enstone, responsible for the chassis, and Viry-Châtillon, responsible for the engines. The partnership reached its peak with championship doubles in 2005 and 2006, when Fernando Alonso won consecutive Drivers' titles and helped end Ferrari's period of dominance. However, the team's history was shaken by the 2008 Crashgate scandal at the Singapore Grand Prix, which resulted in major disciplinary action against senior management and contributed to Renault gradually reducing its direct involvement before selling a majority stake to Genii Capital.

Lotus F1 Team (2012-2015): the return of Kimi Räikkönen

Despite losing Renault's full works backing, the Enstone operation demonstrated remarkable resilience under the Lotus name. The team claimed significant victories with Kimi Räikkönen at Abu Dhabi in 2012 and Australia in 2013, remaining competitive near the front of the Constructors' Championship. However, the introduction of the V6 turbo-hybrid era in 2014 exposed serious financial difficulties, eventually leading Renault to reacquire the team at the end of 2015 and prevent the organisation from collapsing.

The Alpine revival and the transition to Mercedes power (2021-2025)

From 2021, the rebranding to Alpine was designed to strengthen the sporting identity of the Renault Group's performance brand. Esteban Ocon's victory in Hungary in 2021 and Fernando Alonso's podium in Qatar represented unexpected competitive highlights. However, the 2024-2025 period was marked by a deep technical and management crisis. The 2024 A524 struggled to escape the lower end of the grid, prompting a major restructuring that included the return of Flavio Briatore as Executive Adviser and the appointment of Oliver Oakes as Team Principal.

The 2025 season, which ended with just 22 points, marked the lowest point of Alpine's modern era and was accompanied by the historic decision to end the Formula 1 engine programme at Viry-Châtillon. The move transforms Alpine into a customer team, with an official agreement to use Mercedes power units and gearboxes from the 2026 season onwards, bringing more than four decades of French engine involvement with the Enstone operation to an end.

By the end of 2025, the team remained in a critical transitional phase, aiming to use its new partnership with Mercedes technology as the foundation for a recovery under Formula 1's new technical regulations.

First race:

Gran Premio di Inghilterra 1977

First victory:

Gran Premio di Francia 1979

Year	Chassis	Engine	Points
2026	Renault A526	Mercedes M17 E Performance	68
2025	Renault A525	Renault	22
2024	Renault A524	Renault	65
2023	Renault A523	Renault	120
2022	Renault A522	Renault E-Tech RE22	173
2021	Renault A521	Renault E-Tech 20B	155
2020	Renault R.S.20	Renault	181
2019	Renault R.S.19	Renault E-Tech 19	91
2018	Renault R.S.18	Renault R.E.18	122
2017	Renault R.S.17	Renault	57
2016	Renault R.S.16	Renault R.E.16	8
2011	Renault R31	Renault RS27-2011	73
2010	Renault R30	Renault RS27-2010	163
2009	Renault R29	Renault RS27	26
2008	Renault R28	Renault RS27	80
2007	Renault R27	Renault RS27	51
2006	Renault R26	Renault RS26	206
2005	Renault R25	Renault RS25	191
2004	Renault R24	Renault RS24	105
2003	Renault R23	Renault RS23	88
2002	Renault R202	Renault RS22	23

* Season with at least 1 point won (since 2000)

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