Alpine reveals name of its first Mercedes‑powered 2026 challenger

Alpine has officially named its 2026 car A526, the first chassis to run a Mercedes power unit. The French outfit, which finished last in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship, is using the name change to signal a fresh start after four challenging years.

Why it matters:

• Power‑unit switch – After a decade with Renault, Alpine hopes Mercedes' hybrid engine will close the performance gap that kept it in the midfield.
• Strategic reset – By pausing development of the 2025 car, the team can devote resources to mastering the 2026 technical regulations, which promise larger aerodynamic freedom and new power‑unit constraints.
• Driver continuity – Pierre Gasly and rookie Franco Colapinto will pilot the A526, giving the team continuity while testing the new engine in race conditions.

The details:

• Car name – A526 follows the numeric naming pattern used for previous Alpine models (A521‑A525).
• Engine partnership – Early bench testing suggests the Mercedes PU could deliver roughly 15‑20 % more horsepower than the outgoing Renault unit.
• Development focus – Alpine sacrificed upgrades for its 2025 car in the latter half of the season to free up engineering capacity for the 2026 aero package, which will feature larger front wings and a re‑shaped rear diffuser under the new rules.
• Performance target – Team principal Otmar Szafnauer has said the goal is to finish in the top‑six by the end of the 2026 season, a stark contrast to the 10th‑place finish in 2025.

What's next:

• 2026 car rollout – Alpine will reveal the A526’s full aerodynamic silhouette at a dedicated launch event in early 2026, coinciding with the first pre‑season test in Bahrain.
• Testing program – Gasly and Colapinto will share a limited‑run test schedule, allowing the team to gather data on the Mercedes PU’s reliability and integration with Alpine’s chassis.
• Championship outlook – If the power unit delivers the promised boost and the new aero package proves competitive, Alpine could challenge the mid‑field pack and potentially fight for points on circuits that favor straight‑line speed.