F1 Daily
The story of Alpine
From Toleman to Benetton
The organisation entered Formula 1 as Toleman in 1981. Ayrton Senna’s 1984 rookie season, including his wet-weather Monaco performance, brought it worldwide attention. Benetton took over for 1986, and the team later moved to Enstone. Michael Schumacher won the drivers’ championships in 1994 and 1995; the second season also produced Benetton’s only constructors’ title.
Renault and Lotus chapters
Renault acquired Benetton and adopted its own name in 2002. Fernando Alonso and the team won consecutive championship doubles in 2005 and 2006. A change in ownership led through Lotus Renault GP branding in 2011 to the Lotus constructor name from 2012. Kimi Räikkönen won races for Lotus before Renault repurchased the operation and returned as a works team in 2016.
The Alpine era
Renault renamed its team Alpine for 2021 to promote its sports-car brand. Esteban Ocon’s Hungarian Grand Prix victory became the first win under the new identity. Subsequent seasons brought podiums and leadership changes. For 2026, the Enstone chassis team switched from Renault to Mercedes power. The Lotus in this lineage is the Enstone team, distinct from the original Team Lotus and the separate 2010–2011 Lotus Racing entry.
