The French team shared the launch of the new single-seater with Mercedes engines for the 2026 season
Alpine took a key step on its path toward the 2026 Formula 1 season. With less than a month to go before the start of preseason, the French team carried out the first ignition of the brand-new A526 that Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly will use.
The team shared the moment on its official social media accounts with a clear message: "A new era. The A526 is alive", accompanied by the sound of the ignition and scenes from the factory.
Beyond the symbolic aspect, the engine's first start represents a key stage at a technical and operational level, since it makes it possible to verify the correct functioning of the systems before taking the car to the track. Under the new regulations, the power units will have an almost equal distribution between the energy from the internal combustion engine and the electric power, in addition to new driving and energy management modes.
With development already in its final stage, Alpine will be one of the first teams to test its car. The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) authorized its participation in a filming day on January 9 in Barcelona, together with Audi, with a new session scheduled for the 11th.
After that will come the first real contact with the rest of the grid in the official preseason tests, which will take place from January 26 to 30 at the Montmeló circuit, behind closed doors. Preparation will continue in Bahrain, with two blocks of testing scheduled from February 11 to 13 and from February 18 to 20.
