Alpine finished dead last in the 2025 constructors' championship, a disastrous result for the French team. Now, the outfit must attempt a significant bounce back for the upcoming F1 season. The team's prospects will be scrutinized during its official season launch in Barcelona this Friday.

The primary change for Alpine in 2026 is a new engine partnership, a critical shift as the grid prepares for major regulation changes. However, the team will attempt this rebuild with a largely unchanged driver lineup and technical staff, a challenging prospect after a winless campaign.

Success will depend on how well Alpine integrates its new power unit and capitalizes on the 2026 rule reset. For a team that has struggled for consistency, closing the performance gap to the midfield is the immediate, essential goal to escape the back of the grid.