Formula 1 kicks off a testing phase in Bahrain on the road to 2026, with Alpine focused on gathering data and with Franco Colapinto as a central part of the on-track work plan during this key F1 week x
Formula 1 got underway in Bahrain with one of the most important stages of the preseason, on the eve of the 2026 championship. With completely new cars due to the regulatory change, the tests are used to begin understanding the behavior of the single-seaters and to adjust the first working parameters ahead of the official start of the calendar.
After the initial shakedowns in Barcelona, the activity moved to the Sakhir circuit, where teams have three days to run, collect data, and assess reliability. There, Alpine began its program with a defined plan to split track time among its drivers and move forward with car development.
Franco Colapinto is part of that framework and will appear at specific moments of the test. The Argentine will be in charge of opening the team’s activity in the morning session of the first day, while teammate Pierre Gasly will take over in the afternoon. The schedule will continue with a full day for the French driver, and the finale will feature Colapinto back behind the wheel in both sessions.
The test format establishes that each team may use only one car per session, which requires a precise distribution of stints. Each day is divided into two four-hour blocks, with conditions that vary throughout the day and allow different race scenarios to be simulated.
For Alpine, these tests are not aimed at chasing quick lap times, but at understanding the car’s overall operation. The main objective is to log mileage, detect potential issues, and begin working on the basic setup of the single-seater in a controlled environment.
Colapinto had already logged laps in Barcelona, in a more closed setting, and will now have the opportunity to continue that process in an environment with greater exposure. His role at this stage is to provide feedback, adapt to the car’s characteristics, and work with the engineers on interpreting the data collected on track.
The Bahrain tests are part of the first block of official tests of the year and represent a necessary step ahead of the second round, which will also take place at the same circuit. Only after completing that work will the teams travel to Australia to formally start the season.
With regulations introducing sweeping changes, every run on track is valuable. In that context, Alpine aims to build a solid foundation from the outset, with Colapinto integrated into the overall plan and a focus on reaching the championship opener with as much information as possible.