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James Hinchcliffe believes that Pierre Gasly could return to the top step of the podium with Alpine in 2026.
Alpine have become a hot topic ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, as they sacrificed the 2025 season for benefits in 2026.
The Enstone-based team did not develop their car throughout the 2025 season, and finished last in the constructors’ standings. However, this allowed them to gain more wind tunnel time for the 2026 season.
As well as extra wind tunnel time, Alpine are expected to benefit from the Mercedes power unit that they now have in the back of their car, which looks like the best power unit on the 2026 grid.
With these changes for Alpine, many expect them to lead the midfield at the start of the season, and potentially be a thorn in the side of some of the top teams.
Alpine will hope to end their droughts in F1 now they have a Mercedes engine, but will they?
Pierre Gasly as a dark horse for a Grand Prix victory
Whilst discussing his ‘sleeper’ pick for the 2026 Formula 1 season on Decoding Wisdom, James Hinchcliffe named Pierre Gasly as his choice as a dark horse for a Grand Prix victory.
The Canadian believes that Gasly has all the factors in his favour to become a shock winner, as Alpine have heavily invested in the 2026 car, and he has the Mercedes power unit.
Hinchcliffe said, “Pierre Gasly, let’s roll the dice… Alpine committed to 2026 very early; they wrote off 2025. He had to weather the storm, and he did it. I’m not going to say with a smile on his face, but as gracefully as a competitive person can do it.
“He is a Grand Prix winner, he has the Mercedes power unit now, the team have focused 100% of their efforts on the chassis, they could be a sleeper.”
He continued by saying, “Think back to 2014 when Mercedes came out with the best engine, it was not close, it was by far the best. Williams was third in the constructors standings because they had a Mercedes PU, that was a team who were barely making payroll and just scraping by.
“You have Alpine, who have decent funding, Gasly is very capable, Colapinto has a lot to prove but has a lot of potential, they have the right power unit, you could see a Pierre Gasly victory this year.”
Is Flavio Briatore’s target for Alpine in 2026 realistic or too ambitious?
Alpine have been tipped for a surprise podium in Melbourne
Hinchcliffe is not the first person to suggest that Alpine could be ‘sleeper’ picks for the 2026 Formula 1 season.
During the first week of the Bahrain test, Sam Collins made a prediction that Alpine would feature on the podium at the opening Grand Prix in Melbourne.
On the third day of the six-day test, Collins said, “That car really should be a frontrunner, and I have tipped them to be on the podium in Melbourne, if the drivers don’t do anything silly.”
This goes in line with what Flavio Briatore expects from Alpine in 2026, as he has stated that there will be ‘no more excuses’ from his drivers.
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