BWT Alpine Formula One Team – Test 2, day 1 in Bahrain: the A526 begins to show its strength

BWT Alpine Formula One Team kicked off the second session of 2026 winter testing this Wednesday at the Bahrain International Circuit with a dense, structured and trouble-free day. Over the 5.412-kilometre Sakhir layout, the Alpine A526 continued adapting to a deeply revised set of regulations, completing 121 laps — 655 kilometres — with Pierre Gasly in the morning and Franco Colapinto in the afternoon.

The Enstone-based outfit built on the first week’s foundations (318 laps, 1,721 km) to sharpen its understanding of the 2026 package.

A technical revolution that demands a complete rethink of balance and operational methods.

BWT Alpine Formula One Team: Wednesday – testing

The morning session, from 10:00 to 14:00 local time, was entrusted to Pierre Gasly with a programme focused on applying the lessons learned from the first week. The aim was not outright pace, but data correlation and validation of the technical directions set at Enstone.

The session proved typically Bahraini: high temperatures, a still-green track and limited grip. Under those conditions, braking and traction phases were tricky to manage, particularly at Turn 1 where a wheel lock-up highlighted just how sensitive braking can be under the new energy split, now harvested exclusively under braking and deceleration without the MGU-H.

On the technical side, the team continued calibrating new electronic systems after the anomalies flagged during the first test session. Engineers worked on optimising transitions between active aerodynamic modes, running low-drag on the straights and maximum load in the corners, with the aim of stabilising the platform as ride height and attitude change. Suspension adjustments, particularly around the front end with the pull-rod architecture, were introduced to better control load transfers. Managing turbo lag — more pronounced without the MGU-H — remained a development focus, especially on exits of slow corners such as Turns 1 and 10.

Pierre Gasly completed 61 laps and set a best time of 1’35’’898, the 14th fastest of the day, 2’’439 off the benchmark set by George Russell. A gap to interpret carefully, as fuel loads, engine modes and the tyre compounds used — likely within the C1 to C5 range — are never publicly disclosed during testing.

In the afternoon, from 15:00 to 19:00, Franco Colapinto took over with a slightly different approach, more geared towards feel in more representative conditions, notably into dusk under floodlights. His 60 laps allowed the team to explore more aggressive drag-level directions, refine low-speed traction and run longer stints to assess thermal tyre degradation.

With a best time of 1’35’’254, ninth on the combined classification and 1’’795 off the fastest time of the day, the Argentinian improved the team’s internal reference. Several lock-ups at Turn 1 were also noted, a phenomenon seen across other teams too, underlining how narrow the operating window still is with this new generation of cars.

No major reliability issues were reported, which stands in contrast to the first week that featured electronic integration tweaks and energy calibration work. Energy recovery, capped at 3000 MJ/h, remained stable throughout the day.

With 121 laps on the board, BWT Alpine Formula One Team sits in the midfield in terms of mileage, behind Mercedes who broke the 140-lap mark, but ahead of several outfits still struggling to log kilometres.

From understanding to exploitation

This first day of Test 2 marks a clear strategic shift. After an initial phase dedicated to discovery and systems validation, the team is now focused on steering set-up direction with precision and building a coherent base for Melbourne.

Correlation runs between digital tools — CFD, simulation and track data — went smoothly. The aerodynamic platform looks more stable than during the first outings, and consistency across active aero modes is improving. Energy management, the cornerstone of the 2026 regulations, appears better controlled, even if overall efficiency still trails the benchmarks shown by Mercedes, Ferrari or McLaren.

The raw gap observed — between 1.8 and 2.4 seconds depending on the driver — primarily reflects a priority on reliability and learning rather than chasing a “headline” lap. In the Enstone tradition, heir to Renault F1 Team, the method remains rigorous: absorb complexity first, then unlock potential.

They said

Pierre Gasly:

“After a few days analysing an intense first week of pre-season testing, it was nice to be back behind the wheel this morning and put some of those learnings into practice.

We really learn more every time we’re out on track, both about the car itself and on my side, discovering tips to get the most out of these cars with the new regulations.

The morning session is always quite tricky, especially with high temperatures and a grip level that is generally quite low.

I enjoy the challenge and I can’t wait to be back at it on Friday for the last opportunity to learn as much as possible before the real season gets underway in a few weeks’ time in Melbourne.”

Steve Nielsen:

“We made a pretty good start to the second week of pre-season testing in Bahrain, completing 121 laps split almost evenly between Pierre this morning and Franco this afternoon.

Last week was an important learning phase, with several challenges to overcome as we continue to learn more about the A526 in order to fully exploit our complete package. Our week at the end of January in Barcelona and our first week here were mainly about understanding the new systems and adapting to new ways of working.

This time, the focus is more on the direction of the car set-up while allowing the drivers to better feel its behaviour in different conditions before we return to competition. There is plenty of work ahead with Franco on track all day tomorrow, then Pierre on Friday for the final day of testing before switching fully to Melbourne.”

Final tweaks before Melbourne

This Wednesday was anything but simple mileage gathering. Behind those 121 carefully stacked laps, there was a quieter message: Alpine is starting to move beyond pure learning mode.

The 1.8 to 2.4-second gap to the front remains measurable, but Pierre Gasly’s best time since the start of testing suggests the margin is shrinking as understanding grows. The A526 is no longer merely reacting; it is beginning to be steered in a clear direction. It is not a fist on the table yet, but it is no longer a defensive stance either.

Against Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari, energy efficiency and traction still look superior. Yet in the midfield, Alpine is no longer absorbing punches. Haas and Audi remain behind on overall rhythm, while Aston Martin is still dealing with technical issues. The midfield order is starting to take shape — and Enstone is settling into it with more authority than last week.

There are still sensitive areas, notably in low-speed grip and in managing turbo lag, but the car looks more stable, more coherent, less fragile in the way it is being run. If the lap times are not a declaration of war yet, they at least suggest the team has no intention of playing a supporting role in 2026.

The question is no longer whether Alpine understands its car. It is starting to make it progress. And in a tight field, that is often the exact moment the gaps begin to melt away.

Summary table – test 2, day 1 – Bahrain (18 February 2026)

At the end of this first day of the second test session, here are the performances recorded by the BWT Alpine Formula One Team drivers:

Last week, Test 1, day 1-2-3 in Bahrain

Source: BWT Alpine Formula One Team