Pierre Gasly drove the new Alpine 2026 F1 car on its track debut at Silverstone circuit sporting a livery strikingly similar to last season’s, just days before the official team launch and Formula 1 pre-season testing.
The shakedown at Silverstone unfolded on a sopping wet track, with fan footage capturing the Alpine A526 slicing through puddles, its active aerodynamics— a flagship feature of the 2026 rules—hinting at the adaptive wings and floors designed to boost overtaking and efficiency.
Experienced French driver Pierre Gasly was at the wheel, navigating the rainy conditions at the Enstone-based squad’s home track just 40 kilometers away from their headquarters, utilizing the permitted 200km filming day allocation to gather crucial early data.
The car sported a livery strikingly similar to last season’s design, featuring the familiar blue, white, and pink hues that have become synonymous with Alpine’s branding in recent years, a choice that signals continuity amid the seismic shifts expected in 2026.
This debut comes at a critical juncture for Alpine, who endured a challenging 2025 campaign, finishing last in the constructors’ championship after prioritizing the 2026 project over mid-season development of their A525 machine.
The decision to halt progress on the outgoing car in early June allowed the team to redirect resources toward the new era, where chassis and power unit regulations undergo the most profound overhaul since 2014, promising closer racing, lighter cars, and a renewed emphasis on sustainable powertrains.
Alpine’s move to Mercedes power units for the first time—abandoning Renault’s in-house program—represents a strategic pivot, positioning them as a customer team with access to one of the grid’s most potent engines under the 2026 formula, which mandates 50% electric power and fully sustainable fuels.
As the fourth team to roll out their 2026 challenger on track following Audi’s Barcelona outing, Cadillac’s Silverstone shakedown, and Racing Bulls’ Imola test run, Alpine joins a wave of early activity underscoring the intense development race ahead of pre-season testing in Barcelona from January 26 to 30.
Looking ahead, the official Alpine 2026 F1 car launch is set for January 23 aboard an MSC cruise ship off Barcelona, a glamorous event tied to their sponsorship that promises the full livery unveiling and deeper insights into the car’s design philosophy.
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