F1 · F1 Grid · Enstone, United Kingdom, UK · Alpine F1 Team Factory
No team on the Formula 1 grid has been more things to more people than the Enstone operation — Toleman, Benetton, Renault, Lotus, Renault again, and now Alpine. Beneath the revolving door of identities lies a factory that has produced world champions in every decade since the 1990s, and an organization now wrestling with the existential question of what it wants to be when it grows up.
Updated March 16, 2026
Alpine enters 2026 with its final in-house Renault power unit before a rumored switch to customer engines in future seasons. The new regulations were supposed to level the playing field, but early testing data suggests the Renault PU is lagging on electrical deployment. This could be the last chance for Renault to justify decades of F1 engine development.
Pierre Gasly remains the team's anchor after re-signing through 2027, but the Frenchman is under increasing pressure to deliver results that match his undeniable talent. With Jack Doohan alongside him, Gasly is expected to be the clear team leader and benchmark. A strong start to the season could silence doubters who question whether he belongs at a works team.
Jack Doohan enters his second full season at Alpine needing to show significant improvement. The Australian showed flashes of raw pace in 2025 but was inconsistent and costly errors piled up. With the 2026 cars representing a clean slate, Doohan has a rare opportunity to reset his reputation, but patience at Enstone is wearing thin.