Alpine has postponed Franco Colapinto's debut test in the 2026 A526 car, originally set for January 11 at Barcelona-Catalunya, following ongoing Mercedes engine issues that have already disrupted team preparations, as previously reported.
Building on the technical dispute with Mercedes engines that upended Alpine's 2026 plans, the Enstone team last-minute postponed the shakedown of its A526 chassis, originally scheduled for Sunday, January 11, at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. This delays Argentine driver Franco Colapinto's first on-track contact ahead of the season.
No official reason was given, but paddock speculation points to a delay in Mercedes engine data delivery, per Grada 3. Alpine aims to conduct a private test before collective preseason on January 26-30 in Barcelona, possibly January 20-22 at the same venue.
This reflects broader challenges in Alpine's shift to Mercedes power units for 2026, shared with McLaren and Williams. Colapinto and Pierre Gasly were set to evaluate the chassis under the new setup. Preseason continues with Bahrain tests February 11-13 and 18-20.
