Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto revealed the new Alpine 2026 F1 livery at a launch event on a cruise ship in Barcelona as the Enstone-based outfit gears up for a transformative Formula 1 season as Mercedes customer.
The reveal which took place aboard the MSC World Europa cruise ship in Barcelona showcased a tweaked design that retains the team’s iconic French racing blue blended seamlessly with the vibrant pink accents of title sponsor BWT, signaling continuity amid profound technical upheaval.
This strategic presentation underscores Alpine’s ambition to rebound from a challenging 2025 campaign where they languished in 10th place in the Constructors’ Championship with just 22 points, trailing Kick Sauber by 46.
The tweaked Alpine 2026 F1 livery represents more than aesthetic refinement; it embodies the team’s calculated pivot toward competitiveness in an era defined by lighter, nimbler cars and revolutionary power units.
While the core blue-pink palette persists—now with subtle adjustments to sidepod coloring that return to the primary blue hue—the design adapts to the 2026 chassis specifications, including a shorter wheelbase reduced by 200mm and a narrower body by 100mm, down to a minimum weight of 768kg from previous models.
Alpine‘s early cessation of 2025 development in May—prioritizing the A526—proved costly short-term but sets the stage for long-term gains, especially with their high-profile switch from Renault power units to Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains.
Announced in November 2024, this multi-year deal through at least 2030 supplies both engines and gearboxes, joining Mercedes customer roster alongside McLaren and Williams while Aston Martin shifts to Honda.
The livery reveal comes days after the new Alpine 2026 F1 car was spotted on track at Silverstone as teams hasten preparations ahead of next week’s opening pre-season test at Barcelona.
“The last year has been truly extraordinary in Formula 1 terms,” Executive Technical Director David Sanchez said. “With such big changes in the regulations, this project has been a very interesting challenge and one we have really given our all towards.
“Ultimately, the Alpine A526 is shorter and narrower than recent years with some aerodynamic freedom to explore. We have the return of active aero where we have the ability to have movable front and rear wings, something the vast majority of the drivers on the grid will not have experienced before.
“Then, of course, we have more electric power in the power units since we have partnered with Mercedes-AMG for 2026. It has been fantastic to work closely with our new colleagues from Brixworth in recent months and weeks, as we all work together to understand how best to maximise the package.
“All of us at Enstone look forward to getting started in Barcelona next week where we have much to learn and understand on the Alpine A526.”
Pierre Gasly will be entering his fourth season as Alpine’s lead driver, having shouldered nearly all of the team’s 22 points last year—including standout performances amid reliability woes.
His long-term extension provides stability, pairing experience with the raw talent of teammate Franco Colapinto confirmed for his first full F1 campaign after a mid-2025 promotion from reserve duties.
Colapinto, who impressed with an eighth-place finish in his Williams stint in 2024, benefited from a proper off-season simulator program, preparing for the A526’s unique traits like active aero and boost modes.
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