From 2026, Formula 1 will remove the traditional DRS system and replace it with active aerodynamics on both the front and rear wings. On the straights, the wings will adjust to reduce drag and increase top speed. Most teams have chosen a solution that visually resembles the old DRS concept, with the rear wing opening to create a larger gap.

Alpine, however, has taken another path. Instead of the slot gap opening in straight mode, its rear wing collapses. It is a clear visual difference and one that has caught attention across the paddock. The team ran this design throughout pre season testing, while some rivals briefly experimented with alternative ideas before returning to more conventional layouts.

When asked whether it worries him that no other team has followed the same direction, Nielsen was open about his feelings. “Of course it does,” he said. “It would probably be a better question to answer later in the season.”

He suggested that being different always brings a degree of doubt, especially in a year of major regulation changes. “When something is unusual, it doesn’t mean that it is wrong, and we did it for our own reasons, but of course, you do think: ‘Wow, that’s not the same.’”

Nielsen made it clear that Alpine believes in its work, but accepts there are no guarantees in Formula 1. “It is an obvious difference, but whether it is the right direction or the wrong direction, who knows?” he said.

The team is closely monitoring what others are doing and constantly comparing data. “We are evaluating everything, absolutely everything, together with what we see on other cars,” Nielsen explained. “If we see something, we model it, and we try to reproduce it.”

Alpine’s cautious optimism comes after a positive pre season. The team has switched engine supplier and is now running Mercedes power units after giving up its works Renault status. Early signs suggest the new car is competitive in the upper midfield, with a close fight expected around the fifth fastest position.