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BWT Alpine Formula One Team continued its 2026 development programme under the Sakhir sun with a dense and structured day centred around Pierre Gasly.
On the demanding layout of the Bahrain International Circuit (5.412 km, 15 corners), the Alpine A526 completed 97 laps — 525 kilometres — confirming a gradual step forward after a more disrupted start to testing the previous day.
The Enstone-based outfit focused its efforts on understanding the new 2026 systems and validating aerodynamic correlations. A day without headline lap times, but rich in valuable data.
BWT Alpine Formula One Team: Friday – Testing (Day 2)
From the morning session onwards, Pierre Gasly methodically worked through his run plan.
Sixty-one laps were completed across four hours, with a best time of 1’36’’723 set on soft tyres. At mid-session, BWT Alpine Formula One Team ranked among the most active teams on track, reflecting a clear intention to prioritise mileage over outright performance.
A red flag briefly interrupted the programme when the car stopped on track. The team quickly identified the issue and returned the car to action without structural consequence. In the paddock, the incident was viewed as a minor setback, far removed from the reliability concerns that had affected the opening day.
Long runs on medium and hard compounds revealed encouraging consistency in the 1’37–1’38 window, suggesting a healthier balance baseline than earlier in the week. In the afternoon, 36 additional laps were added before an unexpected data reading prompted the team to end running early as a precaution.
On the overall timesheet, Gasly’s 1’36’’723 placed BWT Alpine Formula One Team seventh. The raw gap to the day’s benchmarks remains significant, but reading too much into it would be premature: fuel loads, engine modes and tyre programmes vary widely between teams at this stage.
BWT Alpine Formula One Team
Prudence guiding the A526 project
The Alpine A526, powered by the Mercedes power unit, appears to display a more refined aerodynamic stability than its predecessor. Engineers multiplied comparisons of ride heights and rear wing angles to fine-tune airflow understanding in the third sector — often punishing in Bahrain due to its successive traction phases.
With 174 laps completed across two days, BWT Alpine Formula One Team sits among the frontrunners in total mileage — a valuable indicator at this stage.
They said
Pierre Gasly:
“Overall, it was a pretty good day. We completed close to 100 laps, which is satisfying, as is the direction we are starting to take. Our running was cut short this afternoon after we saw something in the data that we didn’t like.
So we preferred to stop as a precaution. We lost a few laps this evening, but at this stage of the season, with a new car, it’s better to be more cautious than usual. We still have a lot of things to do tomorrow and next week during pre-season testing in Bahrain.
We still covered a lot of kilometres and we are learning a huge amount every time we are on track, especially with new systems and new working methods. There are many areas to improve, answers to find and analyses to carry out as a team.
Generally speaking, we are not focusing on outright performance at this stage because there are still many steps to validate.
My feeling in the car is improving day by day, we have made a good step forward since Barcelona and I am already looking forward to getting back in the car next week.”
Eyes on the remainder of testing
The true hierarchy will only emerge in Melbourne, but these days in Sakhir are shaping the foundations of the season. For BWT Alpine Formula One Team, the objective is clear: consolidate reliability, refine understanding of the 2026 tyres and optimise mechanical set-ups ahead of the second test phase.
The planned alternation with Franco Colapinto in the coming days will broaden the data pool and accelerate comparative work. At this stage, the trajectory is cautious yet coherent.
In Formula 1, winter never lies entirely.
Performance table – Test 1, Day 2
After a mixed opening day, BWT Alpine Formula One Team dedicated the entirety of Day 2 running to Pierre Gasly to ensure technical continuity and maximise data analysis.
| Session | Driver | Position | Best Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Testing – Morning | Pierre Gasly | 3rd | 1’36’’723 | 61 |
| Testing – Afternoon | Pierre Gasly | 7th (overall) | 1’36’’723 | 36 |
| Total Day | Pierre Gasly | 7th | 1’36’’723 | 97 |
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Source: BWT Alpine Formula One Team
