Alpine makes F1’s biggest pace gain from Australia to Singapore, but remains almost half a second off the benchmark
Formula 1 · temporary class logo on blackOfficial class logo
Formula1.com’s comparison puts Alpine’s pace gain from Australia to Singapore at 1.03 seconds, cutting its deficit to the fastest team to almost half a second.
Alpine recorded Formula 1’s largest pace improvement from the 2026 season-opening Australian Grand Prix to Singapore, gaining 1.03 seconds in Formula1.com’s comparison. That cut its deficit to the fastest team from more than 1.5 seconds to almost half a second; Mercedes remained the reference point.
The gain did not make Alpine a race-pace leader in Singapore: the analysis placed the team fifth on race pace. Red Bull posted the second-largest season-development improvement, at 0.62 seconds, while Ferrari and McLaren each improved by 0.43. Formula1.com describes Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull as close contenders on any given weekend.
Aston Martin improved by 0.50 seconds and Cadillac by 0.37, but both remained behind Williams, whose gain was 0.18 seconds. Haas was the only team whose development figure went backwards, losing 0.21 seconds. Its points-scoring finishes in Baku and Singapore coincided with a recent improvement in race pace.
Formula1.com bases its comparison on ideal laps and notes that pace varies by circuit.
Sources 01
- PRIMARY SOURCEHow the pecking order has changed since the season openerFormula 1
This article was produced with AI assistance. Source references make its supporting evidence traceable.