Steve Nielsen (Alpine): "We are leaving Barcelona having ticked several boxes."

How would you summarize this week?

This was the first of three testing phases this year, and our program was therefore very busy. We had carried out a shakedown run at Silverstone (the January 21. (Editor's note), from which we probably left with more questions than answers. That said, we were able to work on certain points here and find solutions, particularly regarding energy recovery, a key learning area for us as for all the other teams. Driver feedback is essential to understanding these new cars, characterized by top speeds far exceeding anything we've experienced before and reduced downforce in corners. All the teams therefore have a great deal to learn. The weather conditions were favorable for most of the week, allowing us to run in dry conditions, cover significant mileage, and collect valuable data. We leave Barcelona having ticked several boxes and will be looking to continue this momentum in Bahrain (lFebruary 10, 13 and 18 to 20. Editor’s note)

The 2026 season marks one of the biggest regulatory revolutions in recent history. F1How did the team adapt to it?

Not only are the regulations new, but we also have a new powertrain supplier. This represents a huge amount to learn. We have been working for months in collaboration with Classic Mercedes for sale on this generation of car. There were no major surprises, but nothing replaces real-world practice, especially for integrating new members and establishing routines. This week was primarily dedicated to systems, procedures, and getting to grips with the car, both for the team and the drivers.

Did everything go as planned despite a very short winter?

On the first day, we didn't cover as many kilometers as we would have liked, which was expected with a completely new car. We then gradually increased our pace and covered 764 kilometers on the final day, giving us a solid foundation to work from before Bahrain. Overall, we are on track to meet our objectives.

Can we already draw any conclusions about performance?

It's far too early to draw any conclusions. Everyone is watching the lap times, trying to guess fuel loads or engine modes, but you only really know your own parameters. I doubt many teams have shown their true potential. Bahrain will give us a clearer picture, especially through the analysis of long runs. Our goal remains to be more competitive and to achieve a sustained improvement in our performance throughout the season.

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