Alpine reshapes its Fuji WEC line-up, dropping Antonio Felix da Costa and Fred Makowiecki for this weekend’s sixth round. The team adopts two-driver crews, reflecting the championship’s shorter six-hour format.

Ferdinand Habsburg and Charles Milesi share the #35 Alpine A424. In the sister car, Jules Gounon partners Victor Martins. Both changes arrive despite the initial entry listing the dropped drivers.

A return for Barcelona and Monza appears unlikely, though neither campaign is officially ended. Alpine’s call aligns with grid-wide moves since the calendar lost longer Qatar and Bahrain endurance events.

Six-hour European rounds reduce fatigue management requirements and simplify stint structures. Two-driver line-ups also maximize practice mileage, improving correlation and feedback for evolving tyres, Balance of Performance, and traffic patterns.

Aston Martin typically runs two drivers, adding a third only at Le Mans, while Cadillac did similar at Imola and Sao Paulo when Alex Lynn was absent.

Operationally, two drivers streamline stint planning and reduce handover risks. Habsburg and Milesi offer continuity in the #35, while Gounon’s pairing with Martins emphasizes outright pace and clear development feedback.

Off track, Renault Group plans to exit Hypercar by year’s end. Signatech seeks a successor manufacturer amid strategic uncertainty, alongside Alpine’s broader direction and 2027 F1 lineup planning.

Chinese manufacturer Geely is discussing a 2027 entry with the Alpine operation. Any agreement would define resources and technical direction as regulations and Balance of Performance continue evolving.

Da Costa’s removal fuels expectation of a 2027 Cadillac switch, likely reuniting him with Jota. The move fits Alpine’s wider reshuffle, outlined in its 2027 F1 plans and F1 driver planning.

On form, Alpine can point to last year’s Fuji win by Habsburg, Milesi, and Paul-Loup Chatin. In 2026, da Costa, Milesi, and Habsburg earned podium at Lone Star Le Mans.

Fuji will test the streamlined Alpine roster. Watch stint lengths, tyre degradation, and safety-car resets for clues on whether two-driver continuity offsets the programme’s lingering uncertainty.

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Zane Muniz

Zane Muniz writes across NASCAR, IndyCar, F1, IMSA, NHRA, and dirt-racing news. His breaking-news alerts and event previews ensure motorsport fans never miss a lap, drift, or drag-strip showdown.