Formula 1 | Alpine encouraged after Miami as upgrade package delivers results
At the Miami Grand Prix, Alpine introduced an important technical package, marked above all by a significant aerodynamic change at the rear of the car.
The solution featuring the mobile flap collapsing downward, already seen during winter testing, was abandoned in favor of a more conventional system similar to the old DRS, with the profile lifting upward instead. A modification made possible by the 2026 regulations, which allow greater freedom in wing opening management.
Among the updates introduced in Florida was also a replica of the Ferrari-inspired FTM system, implemented in a more complex configuration compared to the versions adopted by other teams.
It is not excluded that the two concepts could work together in order to improve the overall efficiency of the car.
Technical director Steven Nielsen explained the situation as follows: “I think it is delivering the results we hoped for, but it’s difficult to evaluate everything in a single free practice session when you are working on a thousand other areas at the same time. The upgrades we brought here gave us a good step forward. Obviously, our rivals — especially the ones ahead — have done even more: you just need to look at the homologated components list to see who introduced the most new parts. Ferrari and McLaren brought a huge number of upgrades. We are happy with what we introduced, but more updates will arrive in Montreal and it will be a continuous process throughout the entire year.”
At its debut, the package was fitted only to Pierre Gasly’s car, which arrived at the circuit at the last minute and was assembled directly in Miami.
Franco Colapinto, on the other hand, had to continue using the previous specification.
The wing, revised in several areas, also required modifications to the endplates and actuator.
The package additionally included front-end updates, rear suspension modifications and a lighter chassis, particularly useful for maximizing the work already carried out at Enstone with the 2026 Formula 1 project in mind.
Alpine’s decision to revert to a more traditional DRS design suggests that the experimental “collapsing flap” may have been generating too much turbulence or unpredictability at high speeds. By pivoting back to a proven lifting mechanism while simultaneously adopting a complex Ferrari-inspired FTM system, the team is clearly focused on stabilizing their aerodynamic platform before the high-speed challenges of Canada. For a team that started the season on the back foot, these incremental gains are vital, even if the “avalanche” of upgrades from the frontrunners makes the midfield battle feel like an uphill climb.
The fact that Alpine managed to assemble a lighter chassis and a complex new wing directly in the Miami pit lane shows a high level of urgency from the Enstone squad.
Do you think Alpine’s more conventional aero approach will finally allow Gasly and Colapinto to consistently challenge for points as the season moves into the European rounds?
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