Pierre Gasly Issues Clear Demand to Alpine After 'Unusual' Pre-Season

Pierre Gasly has stated that Alpine must find "improvements" in several areas before the F1 season begins in Melbourne, despite feeling positive about the team's shift to Mercedes power units. The French driver highlighted the value of an extended and "unusual" pre-season, which provided crucial track time to develop the new A526 car after Alpine finished last in the 2025 constructors' championship.

Why it matters:

Alpine's move from a works team to a Mercedes customer represents a major strategic reset aimed at climbing from the bottom of the grid. A productive pre-season with significant mileage is critical for understanding their new package and finding performance before the competitive order solidifies. Gasly's call for improvements underscores that the hard work is just beginning if they are to make meaningful progress.

The details:

• Gasly described the pre-season as "very busy" and "quite unusual," with the team completing 10 on-track days across Silverstone, Barcelona, and Bahrain due to the new regulations.
• He emphasized the importance of this extended running, noting it provided four and a half days in the car compared to the typical one and a half, which is vital for learning a new chassis.
• Alpine has logged over 1,000 laps with the A526, placing it in the middle of the pack for pre-season mileage—a solid foundation for development.
• While pleased with the collective effort, Gasly was clear that the team must "work hard" to find gains, indicating the car is not yet where it needs to be.
• The shift to a Mercedes power unit is a key variable, ending Alpine's tenure as a factory Renault team and potentially offering a more competitive engine platform.

What's next:

The focus now shifts from testing to solving the identified performance gaps. Gasly plans to spend two days at the Enstone factory on the simulator with the engineering team to prepare for the Australian Grand Prix. The season opener in Melbourne will provide the first true benchmark of whether Alpine's winter work and new Mercedes partnership have moved them out of the rear of the midfield.