Steve Nielsen (Alpine) thinks he can "aim for the top of the pack" in 2026

As teams fine-tune their preparations for the new technological era of the Formula 1Steve Nielsen, managing director of the French team, displays a measured optimism, fueled by the first test runs and a major strategic change: the arrival of the engine Mercedes Benz.

After four consecutive seasons in the top 6 between 2021 and 2024, the fall was brutal. In 2025, Alpine has chosen to anticipate the upcoming regulatory upheaval, partially sacrificing its immediate competitiveness to concentrate its resources on the 2026 project. A risky gamble in the short term, but one accepted internally. In this case, the initial feedback from the Barcelona Shakedown and the first pre-season tests in Bahrain, where Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto have accumulated laps, seeming to reinforce this strategy.

General Manager of the racing team Alpine Since September 1, 2025, Steve Nielsen has been cautious but confident. “We are quite confident. It’s probably a rather boring answer, but we are trying to understand what others are doing, anticipate their pace, and assess our own.” In a context where the new F1 cars are undergoing profound transformations, the benchmarks remain unclear. The introduction of a new technical framework, particularly regarding the recovery and deployment of electrical energy, necessitates a significant learning phase.

« I think we can aim for the top of the pack.

"These are completely new cars, with a huge amount to learn. Energy, and how you use it, has a massive impact on lap times. Drivers have to drive in a completely different way.""The long phases observed at the end of the pit lane, with engines stabilized at high revs, illustrate these adjustments," explains Steve Nielsen. "The turbo boost buildup, new starting procedures, and fine-tuning of the hybrid systems. All these elements are rehearsed in the simulator, but their validation on the track remains essential."

From a chassis perspective, the observation is clear, according to the manager: "We've designed a much better car than last year, I'm certain of that." It remains to be seen where this progression falls. Alpine in the hierarchy. "If the race were tomorrow, I wouldn't be able to say where we would finish. I think we can aim for the top of the pack, but I don't know exactly yet." An admission of uncertainty shared by the entire paddock, as the testing programs still mask the true levels of performance.

The other major development concerns the power unit. After having long been powered by Renault, its parent company, Alpine has turned to Mercedes for 2026. A structural change that could reshuffle the deck. When asked about this, Nielsen displayed an undisguised smile: "We are satisfied with our engine supplier. This is an area where we have clearly made significant progress." A strong signal, as engine performance will play a central role in the balance of the new single-seaters.

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The upcoming tests in Bahrain (Wednesday to Friday) should allow us to refine our understanding of the forces at play, particularly in terms of race pace. "Long relays help to build a more accurate picture."Nielsen points out, aware that each race simulation offers valuable clues.

Without getting carried away, Alpine This reveals a more encouraging dynamic. After a painful transition year, the Franco-British team hopes that its early gamble will pay off and allow it to permanently rejoin the fight at the heart of the peloton from the start of the season in Australia.