Alpine Ditches Long-Term Plans for 'Grinding' 2026 Rebuild Under Nielsen

Alpine's new managing director, Steve Nielsen, is overhauling the team's strategy for its 2026 F1 comeback, abandoning ambitious long-term plans like the infamous '100-race plan' in favor of a more grounded, gradual approach. This shift comes after a dismal 2025 season where the team scored just 22 points, prompting an early focus on the new 2026 regulations as a Mercedes customer team. Nielsen believes the team has made a step forward with its new A526 but is realistic about the long road ahead to return to the front of the grid.

Why it matters:

• Alpine's previous leadership set bold, multi-year timelines that were never met, leading to a cycle of disappointment and instability within the team.
• Nielsen's 'grinding' philosophy focuses on building a strong foundation—getting the right people and processes in place—which is crucial for sustainable success in a highly competitive F1 environment.
• With massive regulation changes on the horizon, a realistic, hard-working approach could be more effective than a high-risk strategy, especially for a team that needs to rebuild its confidence and culture.

The details:

• Nielsen explicitly rejected setting specific timelines, stating, "I’m not a person who believes in a 100-year plan or a three-year plan... It’s a slow, grinding process."
• The team's poor 2025 performance was partly a strategic choice. Alpine stopped developing the A525 early to redirect all resources to the 2026 car, hoping to capitalize on the 'low-hanging fruit' of a new rules cycle.
• The primary target for 2026 is not wins or podiums, but to consistently race for points in the midfield. Nielsen stated, "I want to be racing every week and hopefully for points... and that’s not where this team belongs."
• Nielsen draws on his past success at Enstone, noting it took three years to win a race and five to win a championship after Renault's initial takeover, setting a realistic precedent for the current rebuild.

What's next:

• Alpine is set to reveal its new A526, the first car of this new era, on January 23rd.
• The true measure of this new philosophy will be seen on track during the 2026 season, where we'll see if their early focus on the new regulations has translated into a genuinely competitive car.
• Progress will be measured by the team's ability to consistently score points and close the gap to the midfield leaders, laying the groundwork for a future title challenge.