Best moment
There were numerous ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ moments during the mid-season that hinted at signs of hope for Alpine following a challenging start to the campaign, such as their double points finishes in Canada and Spain.
But clearly nothing could topple that surprise podium in Sao Paulo, a remarkable achievement bearing in mind that both drivers had found themselves at the back of the pack a few months earlier when the season got under way in Bahrain.
There were multiple strands to the impact of Gasly and Ocon sharing the podium; not only did it incredibly haul Alpine up from P9 to P6 in the constructors’ standings – a position that they ultimately held onto by the end of the year despite tough competition – but it also marked a fascinating moment between the two drivers, a relationship that has famously experienced many ups and downs since their childhood karting days.
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Worst moment
Despite ending the campaign on a high note, there were various incidents from the start of Alpine’s season that could be pinpointed in this category, from a collision between Gasly and Ocon in Monaco through to the seemingly endless personnel changes that were playing out behind the scenes – including the arrival of their third Team Principal in 18 months – which all appeared to hint at some instability.
There was also further upheaval when it was announced in September that the squad will no longer use a works Renault power unit from 2026 and will instead become a customer team, leading to more focus on their off-track goings-on rather than their on-track activity.
However, perhaps the toughest moment came right out of the blocks at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where both cars lined up at the back of the grid and endured an equally difficult Sunday that saw them come home in 17th and 18th. It was a weekend where the scale of the task ahead of the team became dauntingly clear.
