Alpine Fires Up 2026 Power Unit, Marking Early Milestone in New F1 Era

Alpine has taken a significant early step in the 2026 Formula 1 season, announcing that its new power unit has been fired up for the first time. The team shared a video of the engine coming to life on a test bench, marking a crucial milestone as the grid prepares for a massive technical reset. This early progress suggests the Enstone-based outfit is on track with its ambitious in-house development program.

Why it matters:

The 2026 regulations represent a fundamental shift in Formula 1, with a greater emphasis on hybrid power and sustainable fuels. For a team like Alpine, which has faced recent struggles and operates its own power unit division, getting this project right is paramount to its future competitiveness. A successful power unit is the foundation for any championship challenge, and this early sign of life is a morale booster for the entire organization.

The details:

• First Fire-Up: The "fire-up" is the first time the complete power unit—combining the internal combustion engine, battery, and electric motors—has been run as a whole outside of a car. It's a critical validation of assembly and basic functionality.
• 2026 Regulations Context: The new rules mandate a 50/50 split between thermal and electrical power, remove the complex MGU-H, and introduce 100% sustainable fuels, representing a huge engineering challenge for all manufacturers.
• Alpine's Strategy: Alpine is one of the few teams committed to building its own power unit for 2026, unlike Williams (Mercedes), Audi (Sauber), and potentially others who are customer operations. This makes their internal progress even more critical and self-reliant.
• The Road Ahead: The power unit will now undergo extensive dyno testing to validate its performance, reliability, and cooling systems before it is ever fitted into a chassis. This phase is about turning a running engine into a competitive race unit.

What's next:

While this is a positive first step, the real work is just beginning. Alpine will now enter an intensive phase of data gathering and refinement on the test bench. The focus will shift from simply getting the engine to run to making it powerful, efficient, and durable enough to survive a Grand Prix distance. All eyes will be on how Alpine's progress compares to other manufacturers like Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull Ford as the 2026 season draws closer.