Alpine boosted by early signs from ‘much better’ 2026 car

Alpine is expressing cautious optimism regarding their prospects for Formula 1's new era, following a challenging 2025 season where they finished last after an early shift to 2026 rule development. Managing Director Steve Nielsen revealed a "much better" car for the upcoming season, highlighting "big gains" with their new Mercedes power unit. While drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto have logged significant laps during pre-season testing, Nielsen admits uncertainty about their exact competitive position. He anticipates a strong midfield presence but emphasizes the significant learning curve, especially concerning energy recovery and deployment, expecting more clarity from the second Bahrain test this week.