Goodbye Renault
The Australian Grand Prix 2026 not only coincides with the start of the new season and the introduction of a revolutionary technical regulation, but also with the opening of a historic chapter for theAlpine. The French team, which last year finished in last position in the Constructors’ championship experiencing evident difficulties at a competitive level, will no longer participate with Renault engines. As a result, for the first time, Alpine will be a customer team from another reality as Mercedeswith which it has signed a multi-year contract.
The ‘study’ in tests
It therefore remains to be seen whether this turning point will lead to benefits in terms of results for the transalpine company after a 2025 to forget, during which only Pierre Gasly managed to obtain placings in the points and on only five occasions: “I’m excited to be going to Melbourne for the start of the new Formula 1 season and racing under the new regulations for the first time – declared the French pilot – the cars are completely different to the ones I’ve had throughout my career and spend the pre-season figuring out how to get the most out of it from the new Power Units, the active aerodynamics, the Boost and Overtake modes it was an exciting challenge. We had great results in Barcelona and Bahrain last month, and I am very proud of the team and all the hard work they have put in. Last week I returned to Enstone with the simulator and everyone did an amazing job to put us in a good position to race in Australia. The Albert Park circuit will be a very interesting test for the new single-seaters. The tracks we have driven on so far are very different to this one, with medium speed corners in Barcelona and heavy braking in Bahrain, a big difference to the free-flowing nature of this circuit, which is often unpredictable in Melbourne’s weather. There are many factors that we need to keep an eye on and manage as best we can while driving competitively. On Friday it will be important to find the right set-up, then we’ll see where we are in qualifying, where I can’t wait to push the car to the maximum and put into practice some of the new techniques we’ve had to learn. I can’t wait to find out what Formula 1 will be like in 2026.”
First year as an official driver
News also for the Argentine’s F1 experience Franco Colapintowhich for the first time in his career he will begin a season as an official driver. Previously, in 2024, he replaced Logan Sargeant in Williams from the Italian GP, and then took over for Alpine last year from Jake Doohan from Imola: “I can’t wait to get on track in Melbourne and start the new racing season. This will be my third season in Formula 1, but it’s the first time ever that I prepare with pre-season tests and that I’m competing in the first Grand Prix of the year. This was me useful personally to understand these new carsas we aim to have a competitive season. We had overall positive tests in Barcelona and Bahrain and collected a lot of important data which we analyzed in Enstone with some very challenging days in the simulator. In each session we learn more and more, and this will certainly be useful when we start the free practice sessions at Albert Park. The circuit is very fast, I have raced there in F2 and F3, and I expect it to be a very interesting challenge for this new generation of Formula 1 cars. We will work hard on Friday to be in the best possible position for qualifying and the race, and I can’t wait to push the car hard and see where we are at. It will be a new way of racing for all of us and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.”
