Briatore Issues 'No Excuses' Ultimatum for Alpine's 2026 Season

Flavio Briatore has issued a blunt ultimatum to Alpine: the 2026 season must deliver results that match the team's ambition, with absolutely no excuses accepted. After a disastrous 2025 campaign that left the Enstone squad at the bottom of the Constructors' Championship, the executive advisor is demanding an immediate turnaround as the team enters the new regulatory era with Mercedes power.

Why it matters:

Alpine's fall from a competitive midfield outfit to a backmarker has been alarming, and Briatore's return was meant to stop the bleeding. His uncompromising stance signals a cultural shift at Enstone, moving away from explanations toward accountability. With the massive regulation reset on the horizon, aligning with Mercedes and demanding peak performance from the driver lineup is a critical gamble to restore the team's credibility and relevance in the paddock.

The Details:

• Driver Expectations: Briatore expects both Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto to score points and push each other. "We need two drivers competing. We need the performance of the driver," he stated, emphasizing that the team can no longer carry "passengers."
• The Mercedes Mandate: The switch to Mercedes power units was a non-negotiable condition for Briatore’s involvement. He insisted there was "no plan B," driven by a philosophy that Alpine must partner with "the best people" rather than settling for second best.
• Technical Confidence: Despite the uncertainties of new regulations, Briatore praised the collaboration with Mercedes and the work of Alpine's technical team, claiming the A526 represents a "new chapter" and a return to competitiveness.

What's next:

The true test will come at the Australian Grand Prix, where on-track performance will validate—or expose—the optimism surrounding the A526 project. While pre-season confidence is high, Briatore’s "no excuses" policy means that any early-season struggles will be met with intense scrutiny as the team seeks to escape the shadows of its recent past.