Alpine Officially Announces Sergio Perez Signing...read more

Alpine Officially Announces Sergio Perez Signing After B…read more

The Formula 1 driver market has seen another dramatic shift as Alpine F1 Team confirmed today that Sergio Perez will join the team for the 2026 season. The move follows the departure of Valtteri Bottas, whose contract with Alpine will not be renewed at the end of the 2025 season after two years with the team.

Sergio Perez, a seasoned veteran with over a decade of F1 experience, most recently raced for Red Bull Racing, where he secured multiple race wins and played a crucial role in helping the team secure Constructors’ Championships alongside Max Verstappen. However, after Red Bull opted to promote a younger talent, Perez found himself looking for a new opportunity — and Alpine delivered.

“I’m incredibly excited to start this new chapter with Alpine,” Perez said in a statement. “The team has shown clear intent to move up the grid and become a regular contender for podiums. I believe in the vision they’ve set out, and I’m fully committed to bringing my experience to help them reach the next level.”

Alpine’s Team Principal, Bruno Famin, welcomed Perez warmly, highlighting the importance of having a driver of his caliber on board.

“We are delighted to welcome Sergio to the team,” said Famin. “He is a proven race winner with great technical feedback and leadership qualities. As we continue to restructure and invest in our long-term competitiveness, Sergio’s arrival marks a crucial step forward.”

The signing is part of a broader shake-up at Alpine, which is undergoing significant internal changes in its management and engineering divisions in a bid to become more competitive after a string of underwhelming seasons. The team sees Perez as a stabilizing force who can help accelerate development and guide the next generation of drivers.

Perez will team up with Australian talent Jack Doohan, who remains with Alpine after showing impressive promise in his rookie season. The pairing of Perez’s experience with Doohan’s youthful energy is expected to bring balance to the team’s dynamic as it continues its rebuild.

Valtteri Bottas, who joined Alpine in 2024, exits the team after a mixed tenure that included flashes of brilliance but was marred by reliability issues and a lack of top-tier pace. Bottas has yet to confirm his plans for 2026, though sources suggest he may be in talks with Sauber or considering a move outside of Formula 1 altogether.

As the 2025 season progresses, all eyes will be on how Perez adapts to his new environment and whether his arrival can finally push Alpine closer to the front of the grid — a goal the team has been chasing since rebranding from Renault in 2021.