Alpine's Mid-Season Review: Highlights, Lowlights, and Driver Dynamics

Alpine's 2026 season has been a rollercoaster, with the team showing significant improvement over last year. They've nearly tripled their points from 2025, moving them from the bottom of the pile to serious contenders in the midfield battle. However, recent performances have seen them lose ground to Racing Bulls, leaving them with plenty to ponder as the season progresses.

Best Finish Pierre Gasly's podium finish in Monaco was a standout moment for Alpine. While luck played a part, with incidents helping him climb up the order, Gasly’s drive was commendable. Starting from ninth, he navigated two Safety Cars and a red flag to finish third, albeit after a successful appeal against penalties that initially dropped him to seventh. This podium was a highlight not only for Gasly but for the team as well.

Qualifying Head-to-Head Gasly leads the qualifying battle against Franco Colapinto nine to two. While Colapinto has shown improvement and made it to Q3 in Miami and Canada, Gasly has been the more consistent performer. Both drivers have faced stiff competition from Racing Bulls and occasionally Audi, often finding themselves at the tail end of the top ten.

Race Head-to-Head Gasly also holds the upper hand in race results, leading Colapinto seven to four. However, Colapinto has had his moments, including a career-best sixth place in Canada. Despite this, Gasly has been the primary points scorer for the team, contributing 42 of their 61 points.

Best Moment Beyond Gasly's Monaco podium, Alpine's best weekend came in Canada, with Colapinto finishing sixth and Gasly eighth. This marked one of their four double points finishes, highlighting their race pace as a key strength.

Worst Moment Alpine's form has dipped in recent rounds, with no points from Austria or Hungary. Even when Colapinto finished tenth in Belgium, he voiced concerns about the car, calling it "too slow." Compounding their struggles was a dramatic incident in Miami where Gasly collided with Liam Lawson, flipping his car. Fortunately, Gasly was unharmed, but it was a frightening end to his race.

Going Forward Alpine started the year as the leading midfield team, but Racing Bulls' surge has pushed them back to sixth in the standings. To reclaim their position, Alpine needs to find more pace and support Gasly’s consistent performances while helping Colapinto reach similar levels. With updates expected after the summer break, the team has a chance to regain momentum and challenge Racing Bulls once more.