Formula 1 Rumor: Audi, Alpine to test 2026 cars first

(GMM) The first running of Formula 1’s new-era 2026 machines is set to come earlier than anyone expected.

Grada3 is reporting that Audi and Alpine have secured FIA permission to begin shakedown testing at Barcelona in the second week of January – well ahead of the official late-January closed-door group test.

According to the Spanish outlet, Audi will fire the opening shot of the new regulations on 9 January, using a filming day at Montmelo to put the first kilometers on its newly branded works car.

Alpine is expected to follow on 11 January in the new Mercedes-powered A526 ahead of the team’s planned January 23 launch.

The early running comes amid the shortest off-season in F1 history and widespread concern that reliability, energy-management systems and aero must all be validated as soon as possible under the radically different 2026 rules. Some teams are reportedly even bringing private security to prevent long-lens spy shots.

Auto Motor und Sport echoed the reports, noting that Audi has been working for months toward an early debut – even running its new power unit with a completed monocoque before Christmas – a milestone team boss Jonathan Wheatley said he “can’t remember ever doing this early before.”

Alpine, however, denied the January 11 date when contacted.

Meanwhile, Aston Martin-Honda moved to kill rumors spread recently by former Alpine boss Marcin Budkowski that Honda’s 2026 power unit was running late. Both Aston and Honda confirmed they will fully participate in the official Barcelona test window.

Honda CEO Koji Watanabe said: “The complete power unit is already installed in the AMR26 and has been taken to the track for shakedown testing. If all goes well, we will bring that specification to production.”

Fernando Alonso also brushed off talk of delays, saying he already has his seat fit scheduled and travel booked for January testing.