Formula 1 News: Alpine reveals 2026 launch date
(GMM) Alpine has become the fourth team to confirm its 2026 car launch date, announcing a January 23 unveiling in Barcelona – just days after Red Bull and Racing Bulls present their liveries at Ford’s January 15 event, and ahead of Aston Martin’s February 9 reveal.
The team also arrives in Abu Dhabi for a symbolic weekend – the final race for a Renault-built Formula 1 power unit.
Alpine released images from Viry showing staff signing the last V6 produced at the factory, bound for the 2025 finale – with white marker messages covering the engine.
Sporting director Steve Nielsen said Enstone is already deep into Mercedes-powered 2026 car production, with the tightest winter turnaround he has ever seen.
“Somebody told me yesterday that from the checkered flag in Abu Dhabi to the first time our car goes on the track is 36 days, and that includes the compulsory winter shutdown,” he said.
“Work that would normally have taken place over two or three months has been compressed into literally four weeks. Enstone is completely on 2026 and has been for some time.”
Franco Colapinto, who struggled badly in Qatar and has generally failed to impress since replacing Jack Doohan, believes a proper pre-season will help him reset for next year.
But Nielsen cautioned that the 2026 testing picture remains unclear.
“Franco is early in his career – it’s learning. But specifically to identify what issues we may have in preseason 2026, I don’t know the answer yet. I’m not sure anybody does,” he said.
With no dedicated test teams in modern Formula 1, the race crews will handle the January running at Barcelona – despite the 24-race season only ending this weekend.
“We’ve been looking at staff rotation months out,” said Nielsen. “We’re building next year’s car in December. I’ve never known that before.
“It’s a completely different way of looking at it.”
2026 launch dates announced so far
| Team | Launch Date | Type | Location | Notes |
| Red Bull | January 15, 2026 | Livery | Detroit, Michigan, USA | Joint event with Racing Bulls and Ford; no full car reveal |
| Racing Bulls | January 15, 2026 | Livery | Detroit, Michigan, USA | Joint event with Red Bull and Ford; no full car reveal |
| Alpine | January 23, 2026 | Season Launch | Barcelona, Spain | Full details TBC |
| Aston Martin | February 9, 2026 | Full Car | TBC | AMR26; first Adrian Newey design for the team |
Aron and Maini to drive A525 in Abu Dhabi
BWT Alpine Formula One Team Test and Reserve Drivers Paul Aron and Kush Maini will both drive the A525 in Abu Dhabi as the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship season draws to a close.
Paul, who has participated for the team in Free Practice 1 sessions at the Italian and Mexico City Grands Prix, will once again take part in the Friday session, substituting for Pierre Gasly. Paul’s development with the team will continue as he returns to the track where he first drove a Formula One car last season in the post-season Young Driver Test.
Following the race weekend, Kush will take part in Tuesday’s post-season Young Driver Test, following the conclusion of the Formula 2 race weekend, for his first appearance in modern Formula One machinery in an official Formula One session. Kush has previously driven in the team’s Testing Previous Cars [TPC] program and simulator as part of his role in the Alpine Academy. His position was expanded earlier in the year to become one of the team’s Test and Reserve Drivers, bolstering further the pool of driving talent within the team.
Paul Aron: “I am looking forward to being back behind the wheel of the A525 this weekend in Abu Dhabi for my third Free Practice session with the team, and fifth of the season. The performances in Monza and Mexico City were very positive for my personal development as a driver and I’m looking forward to building on that for a final time this year. I really enjoyed the opportunity to take part in the post-season test at this track last year – a very fond memory for me as it was my first time in a Formula One car – and I am grateful to the team for giving me this latest opportunity again in Abu Dhabi. I will do my best to help set up a successful race weekend for the team.”
Kush Maini: “I can’t wait to take part in the post-season Abu Dhabi test and to have my first proper experience of the A525. The Yas Marina Circuit is one I know well from Formula 2 and it will be impressive to see the level of performance Formula One cars have around this track. I’m very appreciative of the team for trusting me in this role and will aim to do the best job possible with the programme the team gives me.”
Steve Nielsen: “The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend presents an excellent opportunity to call on our Test and Reserve drivers and to allow them all-important seat time in a modern Formula One car. Both Paul and Kush have worked hard this season, especially during our simulator and TPC programmes to be prepared and ready for any Formula One opportunity. I am looking forward to seeing how they perform in their respective sessions at Yas Marina.