Pierre Gasly Expresses Immense Pride as Alpine Completes 2026 A526 Car

Pierre Gasly expresses "immense pride" as Alpine successfully completes its A526 car for the 2026 season, navigating a critical first hurdle. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the team as it undergoes a massive transformation, transitioning from a factory Renault outfit to a Mercedes customer team under new power unit regulations.

Why it matters:

The 2026 regulations represent a brand-new era for Formula 1, and for Alpine, it involves a fundamental operational change. Moving away from factory status to become a Mercedes customer is a strategic pivot aimed at returning to competitiveness. Successfully hitting development milestones now is vital to ensure the team is not left behind when the new rules take effect.

The details:

• Career First: For Gasly, this is the first time in his career where the entire car has undergone such significant changes from one season to the next, entering what he calls "unknown territory."
• Strategic Shift: Alpine has ditched its in-house power unit production to become a Mercedes customer, hoping this partnership will yield better results than their recent factory struggles.
• Preparation: The team has spent the past year working hard on the simulator to prepare for these new regulations, with all milestones for the A526 reportedly met.
• Mindset: Gasly remains optimistic but realistic, stating he is not setting specific expectations yet but is excited to see the results of their hard work.

What's next:

The A526 is set for its shakedown next week, offering the first real glimpse of Alpine's new direction.

• Gasly emphasized that the initial running will not show the final product, with continuous development planned throughout the year.
• The focus will be on taking it "day by day" to understand the car's behavior and improve areas of weakness.