Alpine 2026 Car Launch: Cautious optimism

Written by Jason Sharp, Edited by Benjamin Crundwell

Alpine have launched their challenger for 2026, sporting more of their distinctive blue with cleaner pink touches.

Credit: Formula One

After all the teases on social media, Alpine have finally launched the A526. The unveiling event was a grand show, taking place onboard the MSC World Europa and becoming the first ever car launch to take place on a cruise ship.

There's no points for guessing what colour it is. Alpine showcased their historic blue colour with flashes of pink to compliment their main sponsor, BWT. Less is certainly more when it comes to this years livery, with the areas of pink looking much tidier than recent years and not overshadowing the true Alpine colour.

Credit: Formula One

This year couldn't come soon enough for the Enstone based team, who suffered a dismal 2025, finishing last in the Constructor's Championship with just 22 points. They have retained the same driver lineup for 2026: Pierre Gasly is starting his 10th season and Franco Colapinto remains, having replacing Jack Doohan after just six rounds last year.

2026 marks 20 years since this team won a championship (under the name of Renault), and the major regulation changes for this season are exactly what the team needs. They have ditched Renault as their engine supplier in favour of Mercedes, and are embracing a full reset to climb the order again.

Credit: Formula One

"There's only one way to go quick, to understand the regulations" said executive advisor, Flavio Briatore. "This year we had a lot of time to prepare the car in the factory and we had a very successful shakedown two days ago."

Briatore, who once led this team to championship glory, further stated: "Everybody is very good in Formula One, fighting for one place. This year, I'm sure we are competitive. After that it depends on these guys in pink suits."

The two drivers were the ones to take the cover off the car, and Gasly said "I'm really excited for this coming season, it's a big opportunity for us as a team, it's a big opportunity for us drivers, and it's going to be very technical. There are going to be a lot of things to learn and adapt to, but it's exciting."

Despite being his third year in F1, this was Colapinto's first car launch, since he was a mid season-substitution in 2024 and 2025 . "I think it's a really historic day" he said, "the first car launch on a ship, it's a pleasure; hopefully we can give you some mega results this year. We are working very hard as a team, with Pierre, with the engineers, with Flavio, to have a great 2026."

There is a mixture of needed optimism but also pressure at Alpine, as so much emphasis has gone into this regulation change from the early stages of last year. When talking about the drivers, Briatore said: "I expect the best, this year is not an excuse anymore, we have a brand new car, and the same drivers. We have had a very good winter; our hope is much better results."

It's almost time for the speculation to end. The teams are soon to conduct a shakedown in Barcelona from 26th to 30th January, before the next two rounds of pre-season testing in Bahrain. There are less than 44 days until lights out in Melbourne, where we can finally be sure of the grid's order.