Pierre Gasly believes Alpine’s Zandvoort upgrades will be critical to reviving the team’s 2026 Formula 1 campaign after the A526 lost ground to its midfield rivals before the summer break. Alpine began the season as a surprise contender for points, but its recent decline has allowed Racing Bulls to move ahead in the championship.
Following a disastrous 2025 campaign, the Enstone team impressed with the work completed over the winter. Alpine produced an A526 capable of competing strongly in the midfield, aided by its competitive Mercedes power unit and a solid chassis. Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto secured several points finishes, quickly establishing Alpine as the fifth-fastest team on the grid.
The switch to Mercedes power played a significant role in that early improvement, with the change helping to transform Alpine’s 2026 Formula 1 season after the difficulties of the previous campaign.
However, the team’s strength has faded over the most recent rounds. Racing Bulls capitalised on its own development progress and overtook Alpine in the standings, increasing the pressure on the upgrades scheduled to arrive at the first race after the summer break.
Alpine’s Zandvoort upgrades crucial to midfield recovery
Pierre Gasly is confident that Alpine can make a significant improvement at Zandvoort, where the team will introduce new components for the A526. The Dutch Grand Prix will therefore represent an important test of whether Alpine can reverse its recent decline and rejoin the fight at the front of the midfield.
“By Formula 1 standards, I think that if you bring upgrades, you definitely expect the car to improve,” Pierre Gasly said after enduring a disappointing result in Budapest.
“From my side, I have no doubt that they will do what the team expects, but, as you say, it is important because Aston Martin improved by two seconds this weekend. They have another engine coming [at Zandvoort], Racing Bulls improved by seconds at the start of the year, and Audi did as well.
“I would say it is our turn to bring a significant upgrade.”
Aston Martin’s progress in Hungary underlined how quickly the midfield order can change when an upgrade package performs as intended. Fernando Alonso has also expressed confidence in the revised car and the prospect of further Aston Martin improvements during the second half of the campaign.
Pierre Gasly targets renewed fight with Racing Bulls
Alpine’s immediate objective is to close the gap to Racing Bulls and keep its hopes of finishing fifth in the Constructors’ Championship alive. Although the Enstone team began the year in a strong position, Pierre Gasly acknowledged that Alpine has not made enough progress while its direct competitors have continued developing their cars.
“We have not made many steps forward so far, so I think it is critical for us if we want to keep our hopes of fifth place in the championship alive,” Pierre Gasly concluded.
The battle is expected to remain close, with Alpine, Racing Bulls, Audi and Aston Martin all attempting to strengthen their positions during the second half of the year. The latest Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship standings show the scale of Alpine’s challenge as the midfield development race intensifies.
Alpine will discover whether its latest development work has produced the expected improvement when Formula 1 returns at Zandvoort. The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix schedule covers the complete Sprint weekend, which will take place from 21 to 23 August.
For Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, the priority is clear: recover the performance lost before the summer break, challenge Racing Bulls again and ensure Alpine remains firmly involved in the battle for fifth place.
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