BARCELONA, Spain. In an unprecedented, high-profile event, the BWT Alpine Formula One Team today unveiled its new Formula 1 car for the 2026 season, the A526, during a presentation held aboard the MSC World Europa cruise ship, docked at the Port of Barcelona, just off the city’s coastline.

The ceremony, held on Friday, January 23, 2026, was attended by the team’s two race drivers — Argentine Franco Colapinto and Frenchman Pierre Gasly — along with key Alpine figures including Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore and Team Principal Steve Nielsen.

Alpine revealed the new A526, a single-seater powered by the Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) unit, replacing the previous Renault engine. The car has been designed specifically for the 2026 technical regulations, featuring a more compact chassis, active aerodynamics, and advanced suspension solutions.

During the launch, Flavio Briatore emphasized the “unique opportunity presented by the new technical era” and highlighted that the A526 is the result of the “tireless work of the Enstone-based team, where engineers and drivers have poured all their experience into achieving a competitive step forward.”

Pierre Gasly, who had already tested the A526 during a private session at Silverstone days earlier, expressed his hope that the new car will allow the team to “fight for podiums and stronger results” after a challenging 2025 season in which Alpine finished at the back of the Constructors’ Championship.

For his part, Franco Colapinto, entering his first full season as a Formula 1 race driver, stressed the importance of having a proper pre-season preparation with the team and the excitement of being able to “work from the beginning with everyone at the factory and on track.” The Argentine driver described the new car as “exciting and competitive” and praised the group’s work over months of development and testing.

The launch of the A526 came just three days before the start of official pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, scheduled from January 26 to 30, where the team will continue refining the car’s behavior and understanding its new mechanical and aerodynamic components.

The choice of the MSC World Europa as the venue not only reflects a strategic partnership with title sponsor MSC Cruises, but also Alpine’s intention to generate global media impact and underline its ambition to turn the page after a season of modest results.

The A526 will be one of the protagonists of Formula 1’s new regulatory era, a phase expected to deliver greater competitiveness across the grid and new opportunities for teams willing to innovate in design and packaging. With Gasly and Colapinto at the wheel and a strengthened technical structure, Alpine aims to climb the standings starting with the Australian Grand Prix, which will open the 2026 season on March 8.