Alpine encountered some issues during the first day of pre-season testing in Barcelona. Here’s the explanation from Steve Nielsen and insights from Franco Colapinto.
Yesterday, Alpine, along with several other teams, kicked off testing in Barcelona. The first drivers have already completed several kilometers, gathering initial data on their 2026 cars. The French team also collected additional information compared to what was achieved during the filming day at Silverstone.
During the morning session, the car had to stop at the end of the pit lane due to a technical problem. Despite this, activities continued throughout the day, with Franco Colapinto completing 60 laps, covering a total of 279 kilometers.
Alpine’s day in detail
The team completed 28 laps in the morning and 32 in the afternoon. The conditions were generally optimal, despite the low temperatures in Barcelona. Steve Nielsen, Managing Director of Alpine, provided clarity on the team’s work during their testing debut.
“Congratulations to the entire team, both on track and in the factory, for getting the car out almost immediately when the green light came at the end of the pit lane on the first day of shakedown. It really is a testament to their hard work, putting us in a position to get on track at the first available opportunity in this new regulatory era and a new era for the team,” Nielsen said.
Alpine also faced an issue whose exact nature remains unclear. The A526 stopped at the end of the pit lane, causing the first red flag of the season. Nielsen commented: “It was a typical first day of a test session, running through various programs and system checks. We had a few minor issues that slowed us down, but that was expected with a completely new car. At these events, the main goal is to learn and understand, rather than push too hard too early.”
Therefore, there is nothing alarming for the team, which from this season will use Mercedes power units. Mercedes has been much in the spotlight during this break due to discussions around compression ratios. Recently, there were also concerns about potential ignition issues, but these are standard considerations for new cars.
Performance was not the focus of this first session. Teams prioritized checking the car’s functionality: “Today was largely a considered decision to limit our running at times to ensure our systems and processes work correctly,” Nielsen added.
First impressions from Franco Colapinto
Franco Colapinto was Alpine’s sole driver on track during the first day of testing in Barcelona. “It’s a great feeling to enter my first Formula One pre-season with a new car. It’s very different with the new regulations, with such major changes, and it’s very exciting for everyone,” the Argentine driver said.
“The team did an excellent job preparing everything to have the car ready to run on the first day of shakedown here in Barcelona. There’s always so much to learn at this time of year, with so many new things to understand,” Colapinto added.
The team has a clear focus for these tests, concentrating on one key area: “We have two more days to run here, where we need to add more kilometers and complete more laps. We’ll focus on ourselves, continue to put in the hard work, maintain positive energy, and make the most of this week’s shakedown,” Franco Colapinto concluded.
The opening day in Barcelona has proven that even with a high-profile switch to Mercedes power, the road to the 2026 season opener is paved with technical discovery. For Alpine, the focus remains on building a reliable foundation, ensuring that the early-season glitches reported by Nielsen are ironed out long before the lights go out in Australia. As Franco Colapinto and the team gather more data, the A526 will continue to evolve from a testing prototype into a true racing contender.
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