BWT Alpine Formula One Team and MSC Cruises have sailed into Formula One history, as the French team became the first in the sport to unveil its car livery on board a cruise ship.
The team revealed the colours of its 2026 challenger, the A526, during a season launch event held aboard MSC World Europa while docked in Barcelona. The event took place at MSC Cruises’ newly opened, state-of-the-art cruise terminal and brought together senior executives, drivers, partners, and invited guests.
Drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto were joined by Alpine Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore and MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago for the historic unveiling.
Speaking on board, Pierfrancesco Vago highlighted the symbolic and strategic value of the partnership. “We are extremely proud to have been part of this legendary moment on board MSC World Europa,” he said. “While cruising and Formula 1 may seem worlds apart, we share the same DNA, a deep commitment to teamwork, innovation, and creating unforgettable moments, just like those our exceptional crew deliver on our ships each and every day.”
He added that hosting the launch on a French-built ship reinforced the shared industrial heritage of both partners. “Our partnership with BWT Alpine Formula One Team is not only founded on shared values but also on the strong links with French engineering excellence, making it especially meaningful to host this historic event on a ship designed and built in France. I am also very proud to work with a partner who shares the same commitments to achieving net zero.”
Sustainability played a central role in the event. MSC World Europa operated using Bio LNG through the European Mass Balance system, making the ship net zero in terms of carbon emissions for the duration of the launch. This approach mirrors Alpine’s own technical direction, with the A526 set to run on synthetic fuel under the new Formula One regulations from 2026. MSC Cruises is also preparing to adopt synthetic fuels as part of its future energy mix.
Flavio Briatore described the launch as a turning point for the team. “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for BWT Alpine Formula One Team,” he said. “I am very grateful to our partners at MSC Cruises not just for hosting us today here in Barcelona, on this incredible ship, MSC World Europa, but also for their support and commitment to our team.”
Briatore also underlined the opportunity created by the new technical regulations. “We start the season with a clean sheet of paper and a great opportunity for us to be more competitive than previous campaigns,” he said, referring to the intense work carried out at the Enstone factory and the new partnership with Mercedes AMG, which will supply the power unit and gearbox from 2026.
Environmental commitments extended beyond propulsion. Guests were served BWT mineralised water, filtered and mineralised on board using advanced purification technology. The rollout of this system, AQUA by MSC, across the MSC Cruises fleet is expected to eliminate an average of over four million plastic water bottles per month. By 2026, this will represent more than 49 million single-use bottles removed annually, a commitment shared with BWT Alpine Formula One Team.
Beyond the unveiling, guests were invited to explore MSC World Europa, the first ship in MSC Cruises’ World Class series and among the most energy-efficient vessels currently in operation. The ship features more than 13 restaurants, 20 bars and lounges, six swimming pools, and the striking 11-deck-high dry slide, The Venom Drop @ The Spiral.
The reveal itself took place in the Panorama Lounge, a theatre framed by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Port of Barcelona, offering a dramatic maritime backdrop to the global launch of the team’s latest Formula One car. A bespoke menu inspired by the ship’s dining concepts showcased the creativity and craftsmanship of MSC Cruises’ culinary teams.
Following the event, guests sailing aboard MSC World Europa will continue to encounter the BWT Alpine Formula One Team’s 2026 car on board during the ship’s onward journey, offering a rare opportunity to see Formula One engineering in an unexpected setting.
MSC Cruises has been a Premium Partner of BWT Alpine Formula One Team since February 2025 and a Global Sponsor of Formula One since 2022. This latest milestone underlines how sport, tourism, and innovation are increasingly converging in new and unexpected ways.
