Alpine debuts A526 with Mercedes power unit at Silverstone shakedown

Alpine has officially begun its on-track preparation for the 2026 season, completing a shakedown of the new A526 at Silverstone. The Enstone-based squad utilized a permitted filming day to give the car its first mileage with Pierre Gasly at the wheel, while Racing Bulls also continued their own testing program at Imola.

Why it matters:

This running represents a pivotal moment for Alpine as it embarks on a new era as a Mercedes customer team. With the 2026 regulations resetting the competitive order, validating the integration of the Mercedes power unit into the chassis at the earliest opportunity is vital to avoid the reliability struggles that have plagued previous seasons.

The details:

• Wet Weather Debut: Gasly took to the Silverstone circuit in challenging wet conditions, completing the allowed 200km filming day distance. Footage showed the car navigating the high-speed Maggots and Becketts complex, confirming basic system functionality.
• Power Unit Switch: The audible sound of the Mercedes engine confirmed the end of Alpine's tenure as a Renault works team. The A526 appeared to retain the team's iconic blue and pink livery, offering a visual link to its predecessors despite the mechanical changes.
• Racing Bulls Progress: At Imola, Racing Bulls recovered from a disrupted Tuesday session. Rookie Arvid Lindblad completed a lengthy run late in the day, pushing the program close to nightfall to gather valuable data in cold temperatures.

What's next:

Alpine is scheduled to officially launch the A526 this Friday, where technical details and design philosophies will be unveiled. Following the launch, all eyes will turn to pre-season testing to see if the Mercedes partnership can propel Alpine back into the midfield fight.