Nielsen Scraps Alpine's 100-Race Plan, Vows 'Grinding Process'
New Alpine management, led by Steve Nielsen, is abandoning the team's failed 100-race plan. Nielsen is replacing bold timelines with a realistic, "slow grinding process" focused on structural reform and fighting for consistent points.
Alpine's new management, led by F1 veteran Steve Nielsen, is officially abandoning the team's much-hyped 100-race plan. After a dismal 2025 season that saw the team finish last in the standings, Nielsen is replacing the previous regime's artificial timelines and bold promises with a pragmatic, "slow grinding process" aimed at a fundamental rebuild from the ground up.
Why it matters:
The 100-race plan was the entire strategic foundation for Alpine's rebirth in 2021, a public promise of a return to championship contention. Its spectacular failure, culminating in a last-place finish, represents years of wasted momentum and a culture of unfulfilled hype. Nielsen's blunt rejection of this philosophy signals a necessary cultural reset, shifting from marketing-driven promises to a more sustainable, engineering-focused path to recovery.
The details:
- The Failed Vision: The original plan, devised by former boss Laurent Rossi, promised podiums by 2024 and race wins by 2025. Instead, Alpine scored just 22 points in 2025 and the A525 car was effectively abandoned mid-season.
- Nielsen's Philosophy: The F1 veteran explicitly stated he doesn't believe in fixed timelines like a "100-race plan." His approach is to "put the best people you can get in the right positions... and work as hard as you can," describing it as a "slow grinding process" with no guaranteed finish line.
- Modest 2026 Goals: Instead of targeting wins, Nielsen's immediate aim is far more grounded: "I want to be racing every week, ideally for points... We need to be fighting at the top end of the midfield for points every weekend."
What's next:
Alpine's path forward is deliberately unglamorous and free of bold predictions. Nielsen acknowledges the immense challenge, stating, "you can’t turn these things around in a few months or even a year." The focus will be on steady, incremental improvements: strengthening the team's structure, recruiting to fill weaknesses, and developing a more competitive 2026 car. Success will be measured not by podiums, but by consistent point finishes and closing the gap to the midfield, a slow but necessary climb back from the bottom.