Formula One Makes History Aboard MSC World Europa

MSC World Europa has become the first cruise ship in the world to host the unveiling of a Formula One car, marking a unique crossover between motorsport and maritime engineering. The 333-metre-long flagship of MSC Cruises docked briefly in Barcelona last Friday after arriving from Italy, before continuing on to Marseille later that evening. During its short stop in Spain, the French-built vessel achieved a landmark moment for both industries.

Weighing around 200,000 gross tonnes and rising 68 metres high, MSC World Europa features a futuristic design with a distinctive Y-shaped aft and accommodates more than 5,000 guests across 2,700 cabins. The reveal took place in the ship’s Panorama Lounge, one of 22 decks on board, providing a dramatic backdrop for the presentation of the BWT Alpine Formula One Team’s 2026 challenger, the A526, built for Formula One’s new regulatory era.

Alpine Reveals the A526 in Barcelona

Partners, media representatives and invited guests boarded the ship on Friday morning to witness the unveiling of the A526 livery. The event was attended by race drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore, Reserve Driver Paul Aron, and senior Alpine figures including Managing Director Steve Nielsen and Executive Technical Director David Sanchez.

MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago highlighted the significance of the moment, calling it a first for Formula One and expressing pride in hosting the launch on an MSC Cruises ship. He emphasized the shared values between MSC Cruises and the Alpine team, pointing to a common focus on performance, innovation, advanced technology, and the often unseen work of highly skilled teams operating behind the scenes.

The unveiling followed a successful wet-weather shakedown for the A526 at Silverstone earlier in the week. After the Barcelona event, the car returned to the track at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Monday, January 26, with Franco Colapinto taking the wheel first.

Drivers Look Ahead to Formula One’s New Era

Speaking on board MSC World Europa, Franco Colapinto described the launch as an important milestone at the start of his new Formula One season. He noted that being involved with the team from the beginning of the year has allowed him to prepare more thoroughly, work closely on car development, and better understand how the A526 will evolve over time.

Pierre Gasly, now entering his fourth season with BWT Alpine Formula One Team, shared his enthusiasm for finally unveiling the 2026 car. He acknowledged the complexity of the new regulations, describing them as a demanding challenge for both drivers and engineers, but also as an opportunity the team hopes to fully exploit.

Following the Barcelona shakedown, Alpine’s focus now shifts to Bahrain, where the team will begin pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit on February 11, ahead of the opening round of the 2026 Formula One World Championship in Australia.