Alpine has revealed that its 2026 Formula 1 challenger has been fired up for the first time, sharing footage of the moment on social media. The French team becomes the second outfit to showcase an initial fire-up of its 2026 car, following Aston Martin.

The upcoming season marks a significant transition for Alpine, as the team will no longer run its own power unit. From 2026 onwards, Alpine will switch to Mercedes engines as part of Formula 1’s new technical regulations.

In the video caption accompanying the post, Alpine wrote: “A new era. A526 is alive,” confirming the internal designation of the car.

Driver continuity remains in place for the team heading into the new campaign. Pierre Gasly will continue with Alpine, alongside Franco Colapinto, who also retains his seat for the 2026 season.

Guanyu Zhou has been confirmed as Cadillac’s first reserve driver for the team’s 2026 Formula 1 debut. The Chinese driver joins the American outfit after serving as Ferrari’s reserve last season, following his stint as a full-time Sauber race driver.

Cadillac has already announced Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez as its main drivers, with IndyCar star Colton Herta also named as a test driver while competing in Formula 2. Zhou expressed enthusiasm about joining what he called one of F1’s most exciting new projects, highlighting his prior working relationships with team boss Graeme Lowdon and Bottas.

Lowdon praised Zhou’s recent F1 experience and development skills, calling him an ideal fit for the role, while CEO Dan Towriss said Zhou strengthens a well-balanced and ambitious driver line-up ahead of Cadillac’s entry into Formula 1.

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