Herbert: Alpine stuck in a ‘very long and dark tunnel’

Alpine F1 is stuck in a "very long and dark tunnel", with no light in sight according to former F1 driver and FIA steward Johnny Herbert, who summed up the team’s struggles in stark terms.

The Enstone squad currently sits at the bottom of the 2025 Constructors’ standings, with only 20 points on the board – every single one of them scored by Pierre Gasly.

Rookie Franco Colapinto, who replaced Jack Doohan after six rounds, is still waiting to crack the top ten, leaving Alpine cut adrift from their midfield rivals.

Yet, amid the gloom, driver Gasly clings to a flicker of optimism, banking on new leadership and team changes to turn the tide. Can Alpine find their way out, or are they doomed to wander in the shadows?

The Wrong Understanding and Mindset

“Not good. And at the moment, it’s not as if there is a potential light at the end of the tunnel. It does seem to be a very long tunnel and it’s very dark,” Herbert told Racing Tipster.

“It’s a really puzzling place for them to be in, considering the success they’ve had in the past because they’re just not able to put themselves anywhere near a chance of getting in the top six, let alone the top three.”

A Renault power unit characteristically lacking grunt has done little to help Alpine’s fortunes, while off-track drama regarding its upper management has only deepened their woes. Yet Herbert pointed to deeper issues plaguing the team.

“There was a little bit of an uplift when Flavio came in and they were doing quite well. But that just all petered out,” the Briton noted, referencing the brief spark of hope when Flavio Briatore returned as an advisor.

“It’s just not happening. I think it’s to do with what is happening behind the scenes where the mindset you need isn’t quite there. The competitiveness in F1 is so great.”

• Read also: Renault CEO Provost pledges Alpine’s long-term commitment to F1

Herbert didn’t stop there, highlighting a lack of direction as a core problem.

“They don’t seem to have the right direction and the direction can only come from the people that have the right understanding and mindset of what they need to do to be able to improve upon the horrible, difficult car that they have at the moment.

“It’s just not a good place to see them at. It’s not something you would have expected either.”

Gasly Sees Hope Amid the Struggle

While Herbert paints a bleak picture, Gasly insists Alpine’s form doesn’t reflect the full story of an ultra-competitive 2025 season.

“I think things are looking a lot brighter than they are when you look at the current position in the standings,” the Frenchman said at Monza, last time out.

“If we will be last in the championship three seconds off the fastest car, that’s one thing. This year is probably the tightest field ever.”

Gasly also remains convinced that Alpine’s leadership and long-term vision will eventually pay off.

“I think Flavio [Briatore] convinces me going forward and to the potential of the team. And as I said, there are reasons we’re not competitive this year,” he explained.

“But I think moving forward, and for my targets in Formula 1, it’s definitely the best thing to do for the coming season.

“I fully believe in the team of people we have in Enstone. We’ve got some good new recruits.

“I think in terms of organisation, work processes we have, the team is probably in the best place that I’ve seen.”

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook