Formula 1 returns to Japan for the third round of the season at the legendary Suzuka circuit, a track that doesn’t forgive weaknesses and where Alpine will look to leave behind the bad memory of their last visit.
The closest reference isn't encouraging, exactly one year ago, Gasly started from 11th and finished 13th while Jack Doohan started 19th and finished 15th, neither of them could get into the points, and the car showed major limitations, especially on a circuit that demands downforce and stability in high speed corners, something that exposed the weaknesses of that year's package.
The 2025 weekend had started badly in qualifying, Gasly missed out on Q3 by just one position, and Doohan suffered a heavy crash in second practice, which combined with an error at the Spoon Curve left him eliminated in the first round.
In the race, things didn't improve. Alpine's pace wasn't enough to fight with the midfield teams, and the team left Suzuka without scoring a single point, a bitter result that left a mark on the squad.
Now with the 2026 season underway, the situation is different because the regulations changed completely and teams started from zero. Alpine had an acceptable start with Franco Colapinto scoring his first point in China, but Suzuka is a different story. The Japanese track is one of the most demanding on the calendar, and any imbalance in the car comes at a high cost.
The challenge for the French team is twofold. They not only have to confirm the good performance shown in the first races but also adapt to a circuit that historically has been difficult for them, last year they left Japan with more doubts than answers, and now they have the chance to show that the project has taken a step forward in quality, something they've been working toward since preseason.
Suzuka is a track that combines high-speed corners with very technical sections where downforce and traction are key. Teams that arrive with a balanced car can make big differences, while those dealing with stability issues end up suffering twice as much. Alpine knows this weekend is a test to measure the car's true potential.
The 2025 precedent is in the past, but it serves as a thermometer for how complicated this circuit can be when things aren't running smoothly. This year the story could be different because the team has shown signs of growth in the early races, and now they need to confirm it on a track that doesn't forgive, the weekend at Suzuka will tell whether Alpine is really ready to fight in the midfield or if they still have work ahead.