Franco Colapinto received unexpected news on the eve of his first on-track experience with Alpine. Just a few hours before the scheduled debut, the French team decided to postpone the debut of the A526, the single-seater with which it will tackle the 2026 season of Formula 1. The private test was going to take place at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, but the team modified the schedule and put the activity on hold.
From Enstone, officials avoided providing official explanations and limited themselves to rescheduling the work. According to the Spanish outlet Grada 3, the postponement would be related to technical issues linked to Mercedes, its new engine supplier. Alpine was awaiting key data from the German manufacturer to complete the car's initial setup, but this information was delayed.
Alpine retrasó el debut de Colapinto y Gasly con el A526
For the moment, the first outing on track could take place next week, also in Barcelona. Although there isn't a confirmed date, the team's intention is to test before January 26, when official testing will begin. Another option under consideration is to carry out the shakedown between the 20th and the 22nd of the same month.
The delay takes on particular significance because the change of power unit represents one of the project's greatest technical challenges. Neither Colapinto nor Pierre Gasly have yet been able to have a first real contact with the new configuration.
Meanwhile, in parallel with Alpine's wait, Audi was the first team to hit the track under the new regulations. The German brand carried out a shakedown of the R26 in Barcelona, on a day authorized by the FIA with a limit of 200 kilometers (124.27 miles).
During the test, Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto completed laps, focused solely on checking systems and overall operation. The single-seater was presented completely black, a common strategy to hide aerodynamic details.
Audi fue le primero en poner en pista sus nuevos monoplazas
The first images analyzed by Motorsport made it possible to detect visible changes compared with the current generation, such as a higher nose, a front wing with a washout effect, and a more compact chassis. It should be clarified that the new regulations provide for narrower, shorter, and lighter cars, with a minimum weight of 770 kilos (1697.56 pounds).
