P1racenews AI automatic summary:
A Brawn GP-level shock is probably not on the cards in Formula 1 this season – but there are meaningful parallels between that story and what Alpine is doing right now
In 2009, Brawn GP had a fairytale championship win in Formula 1, with notable parallels to Alpine’s tactics for 2026, both teams switching to Mercedes customer units for a new rules era. Both teams wrote off the final years of the old regulations era to focus on their future cars early, aiming for an advantage over rivals. Alpine is optimistic about its strategy but doesn’t expect a Brawn-style success, as the tactic of investing early is now common in the sport. Managing director Steve Nielsen highlighted the challenge of repeating Brawn’s success due to the widespread adoption of this strategy in modern F1.
Alpine’s focus for 2026 is on consistent performance and scoring points regularly, aiming to move up from sporadic success in 2025. Despite facing setbacks in 2025 from cutting development early, Alpine gained confidence from seeing rivals still developing their 2026 cars late into the season, potentially giving Alpine an edge. The team’s ambition is to race competitively at the top end of the midfield and challenge for points every weekend, reflecting Enstone’s heritage and Alpine’s goals for success. Nielsen remains hopeful that Alpine’s early switch in focus will pay off, positioning the team well for the challenges of the 2026 season.
