Overview
- Alpine finished last in 2025 with 22 points, all scored by Pierre Gasly, as Franco Colapinto ended his rookie year without a point.
- Steve Nielsen made a blunt self-assessment, saying the 2025 car lacked the pace to score and stressing the need to build a much better machine.
- Nielsen set a clear benchmark for 2026: both drivers must score regularly and the team must stabilize performance in the second car.
- He pointed to competitive flashes in Brazil and Las Vegas and noted Colapinto was at times on Gasly’s pace, pledging full support for his development.
- Preparation ramps up with private testing in Barcelona from Jan. 26–30 and public running in Bahrain Feb. 11–13 ahead of the March 8 season opener.