Alpine's Nielsen Scraps '100-Race Plan' for a 'Grinding' Rebuild

Alpine's new managing director, Steve Nielsen, has dismissed the idea of a long-term "100-race plan" as the Enstone-based team begins its rebuild following a disastrous 2025 season. This marks a clear philosophical shift from the previous management, which had set ambitious timelines for a return to the front. Nielsen is instead advocating for a more patient, "grinding" approach focused on steady, incremental progress and structural improvement.

Why it matters:

The "100-race plan," launched with much fanfare in 2021, has proven to be a spectacular failure, culminating in a last-place finish in the constructors' championship. Nielsen's pragmatic, no-nonsense approach signals a much-needed reality check for the team, moving away from lofty, timeline-driven promises to focus on foundational strength. For a team with Enstone's championship-winning heritage, this reset is crucial to stop the decline and begin a credible climb back up the grid.

The details:

• A Failed Timeline: The original plan, initiated when Renault rebranded as Alpine, targeted podium finishes by 2024 and victories by 2025. Instead, the team finished last in 2025 with just 22 points, forcing it to halt development of its A525 car early to focus on the 2026 regulations.
• Nielsen's Philosophy: The new managing director is staunchly against fixed long-term plans. "I’m not a person who believes in a 100-race plan or a three-year plan or a five-year plan," Nielsen stated. "You put the best people you can get in the right positions... and you work as hard as you can... it’s a slow grinding process, and you hope, eventually, you do a better job than everybody else."
• Realistic Expectations for 2026: While confident that the team is building a better car for next year, Nielsen was quick to manage expectations. "I can’t tell you whether that will line up first, 10th or 20th on the grid," he admitted, acknowledging that all nine other teams are also working hard to improve.
• Historical Context: Nielsen brings valuable experience, having served as sporting director during Enstone's title-winning seasons in 2005 and 2006. He recalled that after Renault bought Benetton, "it took three years to win a race and five years to win the championship," providing a realistic benchmark for the team's current ambitions.

What's next:

The immediate priority for Alpine is to shed its backmarker status and become a consistent points-scoring contender in the midfield. Nielsen's goal for 2026 is simple: "I want to be racing every week, ideally for points." This contrasts sharply with 2025, where the team was often "a long way off at the back." The focus now is on improving the team's structure, recruiting to address weaknesses, and ensuring the Enstone outfit can fight at the sharp end of the midfield every weekend.