Alpine takes first laps with Mercedes engine at Silverstone

Alpine ran its first 2026‑spec Mercedes power unit on the historic Silverstone circuit on Monday, giving fans a live taste of the engine’s roar and performance ahead of the new season. French driver Pierre Gasly took the Alpine A523 for a brief shakedown, marking the team’s inaugural on‑track appearance with the German‑built unit. The run follows similar first‑track outings by Audi, Cadillac and Red Bull‑Ford as they roll out their 2026 power units.

Why it matters:

• The switch ends Alpine’s long‑standing partnership with Renault, aligning the French squad with a proven championship engine.
• Mercedes’ 2026 hybrid architecture is expected to be a key factor under the upcoming regulation changes, influencing both power and reliability.
• Early track time lets Alpine gather essential data before the pre‑season test, potentially narrowing the development gap to front‑running teams.

The details:

• Location & date: Silverstone Circuit, United Kingdom – Monday (date not disclosed).
• Driver: Pierre Gasly, 2023 runner‑up, performed a short shakedown.
• Power unit: Mercedes 2026‑spec hybrid, featuring a new high‑capacity V6 and upgraded ERS under the 2026 regulations.
• Livery launch: Scheduled for Barcelona in two days, where the team will reveal its 2026 car design.
• Pre‑season testing: Set for 26‑30 January at the Circuit de Barcelona‑Catalunya.

What’s next:

• Alpine will analyse data from the Silverstone run and fine‑tune the car ahead of the Barcelona test week.
• The team hopes the new Mercedes unit will close the performance gap and push them into the points battle for 2026.
• Fans can expect a full performance showcase and official launch details during the upcoming pre‑season test.