Alpine Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore has revealed he has set the team the target of being in a position to challenge for the championship in Formula 1 come 2026.
The past campaign saw the Enstone-based squad record its lowest points total since the sport returned to ground effect cars in 2022, scoring 65 points in 24 rounds.
Alpine had looked on track to end the season in ninth as struggles with the revamped A524 car resigned it to accruing a meagre two points in the opening eight races.
However, Alpine ended up salvaging sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship with a late resurgence which contained a shock double podium in the wet in Brazil.
Alpine also showed renewed speed in the dry, though, as Pierre Gasly backed up a top-five result in Qatar with a seventh-place finish at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Briatore, who returned to the team in June, believes Alpine can capitalise on having more aero testing time than its rivals above to build on that momentum next term.
“Alpine must always be in the top six next year,” Briatore told Auto Motor und Sport. “Maybe a podium every now and then.
“We have to improve our car to achieve this. That should be possible.
“Aerodynamically, we have much more room for manoeuvre than Ferrari or McLaren.”
Briatore has divulged that Alpine is aiming to utilise the impending regulation change in 2026 to claim consistent podiums and then mount a championship challenge.
“In 2026, we want to be on the podium in 50 per cent of all races,” he continued.
“Then you automatically win one or another race. In 2027, we must be able to compete for the title.”
Alpine upgrades tailored towards 2025
Briatore has admitted the upgrades in Austin which inspired Alpine’s turnaround were tailored towards its 2025 preparations rather than delivering a short-term gain.
“We have taken a big step forward in our development and improved to the same level as Haas and Toro Rosso [RB],” he highlighted.
“But that was already a step for 2025. It wouldn’t have been worth the effort for a few races in 2024.
“We had actually already ticked off that year. That’s why I told the engineers: we’ll only bring the upgrade if it will help us next year.”
Meanwhile, Briatore has insisted that Alpine is in greater shape than the Renault-owned operation was when he took over Benetton and guided it to consecutive titles.
“It is comparable to 2002. But we are in a better position with Alpine than we were with Renault back then.
“The team was in total disarray in 2002. Everyone was arguing with everyone else.”
Briatore explains Renault engine axe
The Italian has pinpointed the decision to axe the Renault engine programme and revert to being a Mercedes customer in 2026 as a positive step in the right direction.
“With Luca [De Meo, Renault CEO], I now have the opportunity to do everything we want to do in the next three to five years,” he explained.
“The first step was to get rid of our own engine. That means we’re saying goodbye to something that only costs us money but brings us nothing.
“Mercedes will give us the best engine and the best gearbox in the business in 2026.
“If you want to win, 80 to 90 per cent of your components have to be the best. You don’t need handicaps.
“In 2002, Renault had a very good engine. It was so good that we were even able to sell it to Red Bull later on. And the gearbox? It can’t win you any races, it can only lose you some.”
READ MORE – Pierre Gasly: Alpine finishing sixth ‘unthinkable’ amid troubled start to F1 2024
