Alpine will be competitive in 2026, says Briatore

Alpine Formula 1 boss Flavio Briatore said he believes the team "will be competitive" in 2026 as they held their official launch for the new season.

Alpine gave their car an initial test at Silverstone on Wednesday this week but did not release pictures of the 2026 model on Friday, only its livery on a show car.

Briatore said: "I believe Alpine will really come back in the performance this year."

He added: "If the car is bad, it is our fault. We did not have any problems building this car. We had the budget."

Alpine finished last in 2025, deliberately not developing their car so they could focus all their resources on the one they have designed for the new rules being introduced into F1 this season.

And the French team have switched to using Mercedes customer engines, after parent company Renault decided to end its F1 engine programme.

Race driver Pierre Gasly said: "It's a big opportunity for us as a team. There will be a lot of things to learn and probably adapt to.

"We had a very successful shakedown, which is a great start. It was pretty extreme conditions but it went very well, did a lot of laps and got a first feel for it. An important milestone for the season ahead.

"Last year was quite tough but we were able to dig into the work we were doing and it put us in a much stronger position."

The Frenchman is partnered by Argentine Franco Colapinto, who is going into his first full season after part-seasons with Williams in 2024 and Alpine in 2025.

Managing director Steve Nielsen said the team were determined to prove last year was "a blip".