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After a lacklustre 2025 season, BWT Alpine Formula One Team is preparing for a decisive turning point with the presentation of its Alpine A526 car for the 2026 season.
The 2025 season is over. For BWT Alpine Formula One Team, the verdict is harsh: last place in the championship, a struggling car, and an exhausted team. The upcoming winter won’t just be a pause—it marks the end of a cycle, and more importantly, the start of a new one.
On January 23rd in Barcelona, Alpine will unveil the A526, its challenger for the 2026 season.
A launch full of meaning: it will be the first time a Formula 1 car from Enstone is not powered by Renault.
BWT Alpine Formula One Team – Alpine A526 unveiled
The decision had been public knowledge since autumn 2024, but it remains difficult to swallow. After nearly five decades in Formula 1, Renault has ended its engine programme. No ceremony, no tribute. Just an announcement—then silence.
Alpine is about to enter a new chapter in its history. The Alpine A526 will be powered by a Mercedes-HPP engine, joining the ranks of McLaren and Williams.
A bold and strategic choice. The team no longer has a safety net. No more technical variable to hide behind. From now on, everything will come down to the work done at Enstone.
As every year, car launch season will run from mid-January to early February. Red Bull will kick things off on January 15th in Detroit, alongside the Racing Bulls. Alpine will follow on January 23rd in Barcelona with a full presentation of its new car.
On the same day, Haas will unveil only its livery. Then come Aston Martin in Jeddah and finally Cadillac, which will reveal its car during the Super Bowl in Santa Clara.
Each team will choose its own style. Alpine is expected to take a more subdued approach. Less hype, more substance. After a season at a standstill, the team wants to start again from scratch—with method and focus.
A regulation overhaul that changes everything
2026 ushers in a new technical era. Hybrid engines are evolving: the MGU-H disappears, the MGU-K becomes central, batteries are more compact, and electric power now accounts for half of the total output.
Mercedes has designed its power unit around this new philosophy. The Alpine A526 will need to integrate this demanding engine seamlessly. The chassis, cooling system, and weight distribution have all been redesigned. The car’s overall concept will be under scrutiny from the very first images.
Aerodynamics are also evolving, with the introduction of active components synchronised with electric deployment phases. Energy and drag management will become critical performance factors.
This could be a playing field where Alpine, with precision and discipline, finds a real edge.
The 2026 F1 car launch calendar
| Date | Team | Location | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15/01/2026 | Red Bull Racing 🇦🇹 | Detroit 🇺🇸 | Full car presentation |
| 15/01/2026 | Racing Bulls 🇮🇹 | Detroit 🇺🇸 | Full car presentation |
| 23/01/2026 | BWT Alpine F1 Team 🇫🇷 | Barcelona 🇪🇸 | Full car presentation |
| 23/01/2026 | TGR Haas F1 Team 🇺🇸 | Barcelona 🇪🇸 | Livery reveal only (online) |
| 09/02/2026 | Aston Martin F1 Team 🇬🇧 | Jeddah 🇸🇦 | Physical launch event |
| 09/02/2026 | Cadillac F1 Team 🇺🇸 | Santa Clara 🇺🇸 | Launch during the Super Bowl |
Conclusion
The launch of the Alpine A526 comes at a crucial time for Alpine. After a 2025 season without results, and as the team switches engine supplier for the first time in its modern history, the pressure is on.
Not the pressure of the spotlight, but the weight of doubt—and expectation.
The Renault engine faded out without fanfare. The legacy remains, but the shield is gone. In 2026, the team will be judged solely on what it can deliver, with the same tools as its rivals.
See you on January 23rd in Barcelona.
Source: BWT Alpine Formula One Team
