Alpine began its 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) campaign with renewed confidence and tangible progress at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari. After completing more than 1,850 kilometres during pre-event testing, the team arrived well-prepared and immediately demonstrated its pace.
That preparation translated into performance, as Charles Milesi placed the #35 Alpine A424 at the top of the timesheets in Free Practice 2. From there, the team carried momentum into qualifying and secured a strong starting position inside the top ten, laying the groundwork for a competitive race.
Charging through the field
Although the #35 car started seventh, Alpine approached the race with clear intent and early aggression. Ferdinand Habsburg wasted no time asserting himself, overtaking established competitors from Toyota and Peugeot during the opening laps to move firmly into contention.
As the race unfolded, strategy played a decisive role. The team used a Virtual Safety Car period to make key adjustments, ensuring that tyre management and energy deployment aligned with evolving race conditions. At the same time, both António Félix da Costa and Milesi maintained a consistent and competitive pace.
Importantly, Milesi executed crucial overtakes on Ferrari and BMW rivals, further strengthening Alpine’s position. By the closing stages, the #35 entry held firm under pressure to secure fourth place, narrowly missing out on a podium finish in a tightly contested race.
Milesi on Alpine extracting maximum performance at 2026 WEC opener in Imola
Reflecting on the race, Milesi offered a measured assessment that balanced satisfaction with realism. He acknowledged both the strengths of the performance and the areas where time was lost, particularly during key strategic moments.
“It was a good race,” Milesi acknowledged. “We lost a bit of time changing all four tyres during the first Virtual Safety Car, but we still managed to optimise our performance. The top three were a cut above the rest, so this result is probably the best we could have achieved.
He then looked beyond the immediate result, focusing on the broader trajectory of the programme and the gains made over the winter period.
“We can be satisfied with the work done over the winter, and we know where we still need to improve. Spa will be an important step in coming back even stronger and continuing our preparations for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
Strong team effort across the garage
Beyond the headline result, Alpine benefited from a cohesive and well-balanced driver line-up. Da Costa, returning to the championship’s top class for the first time since 2023, quickly adapted and contributed to the team’s overall performance. Notably, he matched Habsburg’s fastest lap time to the thousandth of a second, underlining the consistency across the crew.
After the race, da Costa emphasised both the complexity of the event and the effectiveness of the team’s execution under pressure.
“I’m happy with our performance in such a demanding race with a lot of neutralisations. Making the right calls on strategy wasn’t easy, but the team did well and we got the most out of our car. Ferdinand and Charles drove an amazing race, and we can now look forward to Spa.”
Habsburg also highlighted the collective effort and the encouraging nature of the result, particularly given the level of competition. He stressed not only the finishing position but also the spirit and cohesion within the team.
“Congratulations to the team, as this result marks our best start to a season since the programme’s inception. Everyone gave it their all, and we can be proud of how we approached the race, our level of performance and the spirit we showed.
He then expanded on his experience during the race, noting both the technical challenges and the satisfaction of competing in close battles throughout the field.
“I really enjoyed working with my new engineers and new team-mates while continuing to get to know the car, especially in traffic, where the feeling is different from last year. There were some great battles, and I want to congratulate António and Charles, who did an incredible job to turn a seventh-place grid position into a fourth-place finish in such a competitive championship.”
Mixed fortunes for the Alpine sister entry at 2026 WEC opener in Imola
While the #35 car delivered a strong result, the #36 entry experienced a more challenging race. Despite showing impressive pace—particularly through series debutant Victor Martins, who recorded the second-fastest lap overall—the crew encountered setbacks that ultimately proved costly.
A combination of strategic misjudgements and a drive-through penalty during a Virtual Safety Car period dropped the car down the order. As a result, it finished just outside the points in 11th place.
Nevertheless, the underlying performance suggested that both cars possess similar potential, offering encouragement for the races ahead.
Encouraging signs for the season ahead
Team Principal Philippe Sinault focused on the positives, particularly the car’s balance and the effectiveness of the team’s preparation. He highlighted how the weekend validated the work completed during the off-season while also identifying areas for refinement.
“It was an encouraging start to the season,” he underlined. “From the moment we arrived at Imola, the car felt well-balanced and we made the most of every practice session to prepare for the race.
He then addressed the broader picture, acknowledging that while progress is clear, further improvements remain essential.
“We still have a lot to learn, but we have a strong base and we can already see our improvement compared to last year.”
From a technical standpoint, Alpine’s leadership also recognised the importance of consistency and execution. Axel Plasse reinforced the idea that the team now has a platform capable of delivering regular top-tier results.
“This is a satisfying start to the season, as the goal was to confirm that the winter development work has paid off, which it clearly has,” echoed Alpine Tech Vice-President, Axel Plasse. “After qualifying seventh, finishing fourth on pure pace confirmed our potential.
He concluded by stressing the importance of maximising every aspect of performance moving forward.
“The key takeaway is that we can regularly operate in the upper third of the field if we maximise our package and avoid strategic and operational mistakes.”
Building momentum towards Le Mans
Thus, Alpine leaves Imola with a strong foundation for the remainder of what is set to be their final season in WEC. The combination of improved pace, strategic awareness, and team cohesion suggests that further progress is well within reach.
With the next round at Spa and the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans approaching, the focus now shifts to refining execution and unlocking the final margins of performance. If Alpine continues on this trajectory, it will not be long before it turns promise into podium finishes.
