Pierre Gasly from Alpine F1 Team reported a solid start to the 2026 Barcelona shakedown. The first laps in the new Mercedes-powered challenger were completed this afternoon. It was described as a positive experience by the French driver.
According to Gasly, “It’s been a good afternoon, first time in the drive for me this afternoon in that car, so it’s good to get grip with the new car, get some good testing under our belt and understand a bit more.”
A substantial amount of track time was logged during this initial outing. It was noted that over 65 laps were successfully completed. For this, Gasly remarked, “So yeah, I think we managed to get over 65 laps also, so it’s a good start and I’m looking forward to another day in the car.”
Consequently, a strong baseline for the remainder of the week has been established.
The Mercedes power unit and the 2026 reset
The transition to the new Mercedes power unit has introduced a radical shift in drivability. The feel of the car was described as a departure from all previous machinery. It was stated by Gasly that “a lot feels different to, you know, what I’ve felt in my entire career in Formula One.”
Furthermore, the 2026 F1 regulations were framed as a fundamental change. Gasly noted that “there’s quite a lot of sort of references to resets.”
Comparisons to the previous ground-effect era were dismissed as impractical. It was emphasised by Gasly, “You can’t really compare with any other car from what I’ve driven in the past, it would not really be like a fair comparison.”
Instead, the focus remains on a steep learning curve. The French driver added, “But yeah, it’s definitely a car that will take some time for all of us to adapt to, to fully understand and get on top.” Ultimately, the situation was characterised as “a nice challenge.”
Collaborative feedback with Franco Colapinto
The team maintained operational synergy by closely observing the testing program. Gasly gathered information earlier in the week while his teammate, Franco Colapinto was on track. He explained, “I try to, you know, always get as much information as possible when Franco ran and did this sort of, went through the testing we wanted to do.”
This preparation was used “to get a little idea of what’s coming and how things are going to feel like.”
A significant portion of the internal checklist has already been addressed. It was noted by Gasly that “overall, yeah, first, we completed the first two days of our testing and we did a lot of things.”
Furthermore, the relationship between the drivers was described as productive. Gasly remarked, “But yeah, it’s good. I think we’re working well together. And, yeah, as you say, we’re just going step by step.”
Objectives for Gasly and Alpine at the remainder of the 2026 F1 Barcelona shakedown
A clear set of goals has been defined before the team moves to Bahrain. The primary focus remains on maximising reliability and data collection. Gasly shared, “I think on my side, I like to do as many laps as possible.”
A specific target for the next session was also decided by the French driver, “So I manage, as I said, over 60 laps and we’ll be good to get a fully, I don’t know, 100 laps next time out there.”
Through this increased mileage, Alpine aims to refine every aspect of the new package. Gasly concluded that, “the more we run, the more we learn about the power unit, about the car, about the setup, about everything really.”
These final sessions of the Barcelona shakedown will be critical for Alpine and Gasly’s 2026 development path.
