Alpine F1 Team Guide 2026: Drivers, History & Official Track Gear

The definitive 2026 Alpine F1 Team guide. Exploring the Mercedes engine switch, the Gasly & Colapinto era, and the team's legendary Enstone history.

Operating out of the historic Enstone facility in the UK, the BWT Alpine Formula One Team enters 2026 having undergone one of the most significant restructurings in the Formula 1 paddock. Under the influence of Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore and a reshaped leadership group led by Team Principal Oliver Oakes, Alpine made the monumental decision to shut down their historic Renault engine program in France, pivoting to become a Mercedes customer team to claw their way back to the front of the grid.

Driven by French race-winner Pierre Gasly and the sensational Argentine talent Franco Colapinto, the Enstone squad is betting everything on this clean-sheet regulation era.

Whether you are looking to support the team's French heritage at the Monaco Grand Prix, hunting for Colapinto's wildly popular #43 gear, or searching for the latest Castore teamwear, this is your definitive guide to Alpine's history and official track gear.

BWT Alpine F1 Team: Fast Facts

1. The 2026 Alpine Challenger

For the first time in the modern era, the Enstone team is not running a French power unit. To survive the 2026 regulation change, Alpine made the purely pragmatic choice to prioritize chassis performance over corporate pride by securing a customer deal with Mercedes.

• **Car Name:** A526
• **Power Unit:** Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrain (1.6L V6 Turbo Hybrid with expected 350kW MGU-K)
• **Technical Leadership:** David Sanchez (Executive Technical Director)
• **First Race:** 2026 Australian Grand Prix
• **Key Innovation:** Adapting the Enstone chassis to house the Mercedes customer engine and gearbox, providing Alpine with one of the most proven power-unit platforms on the grid.

2. The Enstone vs. Viry Split

You cannot understand Alpine's 2026 narrative without understanding the historic, often tense relationship between its two factories. For decades, the team operated with a divided identity: the chassis was designed and built in Enstone, England, while the power units were developed in Viry-Châtillon, France.

The monumental 2026 decision by Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo to shut down the Viry F1 engine program entirely was deeply controversial in France. However, it resolved years of packaging compromises, allowing Enstone to design an aerodynamic concept around a compact, high-performance customer engine rather than being constrained by an underperforming in-house power unit.

3. The Briatore & Oakes Rebuild

The cultural shift at Alpine is entirely defined by its new leadership. With Flavio Briatore returning to act as the ruthless executive architect and Oliver Oakes managing the day-to-day operations as Team Principal, Alpine cut through its historical corporate bureaucracy. By buying the best engine on the market, Enstone has nowhere to hide-and everything to prove.

4. The 2026 Driver Lineup & Signature Gear

Alpine's 2026 driver pairing blends proven French race-winning pedigree with massive South American commercial momentum, creating two highly lucrative merchandise verticals.

Pierre Gasly (Car #10)

Gasly remains the experienced anchor of the team. As a Grand Prix winner, his feedback is critical for the A526's development. Look for his signature #10 Pierre Gasly Driver Caps (featuring the French tricolor and his personal PG10 branding) which remain staple sellers across the European market.

Franco Colapinto (Car #43)

Following his explosive entry into F1 with Williams, Colapinto's signing by Alpine for the 2026 season was a masterstroke. He brings with him one of the most passionate fanbases in the sport. His official #43 Flat-Brim Cap and Argentina-themed trackside apparel are currently driving record merchandise sales for the team, particularly in the Latin American market.

5. Alpine Trackside Essentials

In a major commercial shift, Alpine dropped their previous apparel partners to sign a massive multi-year deal with global sportswear brand Castore. The 2026 collection perfectly balances the iconic "Alpine Blue" with the unmistakable, high-visibility pink branding of title sponsor BWT.

Shop the 2026 Official Collection:

• **Alpine 2026 Castore Team Cap:** The essential grandstand item, featuring a curved brim and the bold BWT Alpine branding.
• **Alpine Castore Team Polo:** An athletic, breathable quarter-zip polo engineered for high performance, featuring the new 2026 sponsor layout.
• **Alpine Trackside Rain Jacket:** A striking blue-and-pink waterproof layer, an absolute necessity for attending wet-weather races.
• **Franco Colapinto Fan Gear:** Official t-shirts and hoodies celebrating the Argentine sensation's arrival at Enstone.

6. The Vintage Collection: Benetton to Renault

The team operating out of Enstone has one of the most colorful and legendary lineages in Formula 1. They have won World Championships under two different names, producing highly coveted retro streetwear.

**The Benetton Era (1990s):** The vibrant, multi-colored Benetton F1 apparel from the Michael Schumacher era (1994–1995) is considered premium vintage fashion. Original Benetton Ford track jackets are incredibly rare and valuable.

**The Renault Mild Seven Era (2000s):** The iconic light blue and yellow liveries driven by Fernando Alonso to back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006. Vintage Renault F1 team shirts from this era are massive hits with the modern Drive to Survive fanbase.

7. Diecasts & Scale Models

With their striking blue-and-pink aesthetic, Alpine cars stand out instantly on any collector's shelf.

• **The 2026 A526:** Direct fans to high-quality 1:18 and 1:43 scale models of the new Mercedes-powered challenger by Spark and Minichamps.
• **Alonso's Renault R25 (2005):** Widely considered to have one of the greatest sounding V10 engines in F1 history, 1:18 scale models of the championship-winning R25 are legendary affiliate items.
• **Gasly's 2020 Monza Victory:** Special edition diecasts of Pierre Gasly's emotional maiden victory at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix at Monza (achieved in the AlphaTauri) remain highly popular among his fanbase.

8. Team History & Hall of Fame

While the Alpine name only entered F1 in 2021, the Enstone team's DNA is steeped in championship glory. Originally entering the sport as Toleman in 1981 (famously giving Ayrton Senna his Formula 1 debut in 1984), the team was purchased by the Benetton clothing family, and later by French automotive giant Renault.

Legendary Past Drivers:

• **Michael Schumacher:** Won his first two World Championships (1994, 1995) with the team during its Benetton era, putting Enstone on the map.
• **Fernando Alonso:** Ended the Ferrari dominance of the early 2000s by winning back-to-back Drivers' Championships in 2005 and 2006 under the Renault banner.
• **Jenson Button & Giancarlo Fisichella:** Both played critical roles in the team's history, driving the iconic light blue-and-yellow Renault machines.

FAQ: BWT Alpine F1 Team

Where can I buy authentic Alpine F1 merchandise?

Authentic Alpine gear can be purchased through the official Alpine F1 Store, the Castore webstore, and licensed motorsport retailers like Fanatics.

Who drives for Alpine in the 2026 F1 season?

The 2026 driver lineup features French race-winner Pierre Gasly (Car #10) and Argentine rising star Franco Colapinto (Car #43).

What engines does Alpine use in 2026?

In a massive historical shift, Alpine shut down their own Renault engine program and operates as a customer team in 2026, utilizing Mercedes-AMG power units.

Why is the Alpine F1 car pink and blue?

The car's blue base honors the historic racing colors of the French Alpine sports car brand, while the prominent pink accents are dictated by their title sponsor, Austrian water treatment company BWT.