Alpine reveal the livery of their 2026 F1 car on a cruise ship near Barcelona
Alpine has presented the livery of its 2026 Formula 1 challenger, the A526, during a season launch event held on a cruise ship off the Catalan coast near Barcelona. The unusual venue highlighted the team’s partnership with MSC Cruises.
The new colour scheme remains broadly consistent with recent years, blending Alpine’s traditional blue with the pink of title sponsor BWT. While the livery was revealed, the car itself was not displayed at the event.
The Enstone squad has placed significant emphasis on the upcoming regulatory overhaul, having shifted its focus to the 2026 project as early as May last year.
That strategic decision contributed to a difficult 2025 campaign, which ended with the team finishing 10th in the constructors’ standings. Lead driver Pierre Gasly, who committed his long‑term future to Alpine, is hoping the new era brings a competitive reset. He will be joined by Franco Colapinto, embarking on his first full Formula 1 season.
Designed under executive technical director David Sanchez, the A526 completed its initial shakedown at Silverstone on Wednesday. The car will next appear at the pre‑season test in Barcelona from 26–30 January.
Reflecting on the scale of the 2026 project, Sanchez described the past year as “extraordinary in Formula One terms,” noting the challenge posed by the sweeping chassis and power unit regulation changes.
He explained that the new car is “shorter and narrower than recent years,” with engineers given fresh aerodynamic freedoms to explore. The return of active aerodynamics—movable front and rear wings—marks a major shift, one that most drivers on the grid have never experienced. The expected reduction in downforce and drag is intended to improve racing.
Sanchez also highlighted Alpine’s new partnership with Mercedes‑AMG for its 2026 power unit, which features increased electrical output and runs on fully sustainable fuels. He added that new operational concepts such as overtake mode, boost mode, and recharge will become part of the team’s vocabulary this season.
“All of us at Enstone look forward to getting started in Barcelona next week,” Sanchez said. “There is much to learn and understand on the A526.”
