Alpine: a contrasting 2024 season and a new start for 2025

After a challenging first half of the season, with only 11 points scored by the summer break (5 for Ocon and 6 for Gasly), Alpine made a strong comeback after the break, leaving this rough patch behind. Pierre Gasly notably achieved several Top 5 finishes in qualifying and finished in the points multiple times. Meanwhile, Esteban Ocon, not having the same car as his teammate in order to test improvements, had to fight to break into the top 10.

Nevertheless, in Brazil, under deplorable weather conditions and with a favorable set of circumstances, the two drivers achieved the feat of a double French podium, which hadn’t happened since 1997 with Olivier Panis and Jean Alesi. In this race, Alpine collected 35 points. During the last races of the season, the French team secured an additional 16 points, affirming its sixth place in the championship ahead of its rival Haas.

David Sanchez, Alpine’s executive technical director, stated that the car was overweight and the team encountered aerodynamic difficulties: « The chassis and the weight of the car were an issue, and the aerodynamic characteristics were another. »

The crossing of the desert

Despite these successes, the team went through a period of turbulence at the management level. Three team directors have succeeded each other since 2023: Otmar Szafnauer, Bruno Famin, and then Oliver Oakes. The arrival of Flavio Briatore as executive advisor marked a turning point, supporting Oakes in his new role. But tensions later emerged between Esteban Ocon and the technical staff. The Frenchman was repeatedly unhappy during the last races, claiming he was not listened to or understood by the engineers. These tensions led to the early termination of his contract just before the last Grand Prix. Oakes justified this departure as beneficial: « One could say that it would be a good thing for Jack (Doohan) to start earlier, and that for Esteban, it would be better to move on sooner. I think it suits everyone. »

Ocon wanted to thank everyone for the efforts and joyful moments over these years: « Racing for this team in Formula 1 has been an important chapter in my life. Even though I’ve been a race driver here for five years, my professional career started in Enstone when I was just a teenager. It will always be a special place for me. We have experienced great moments together, but also some more difficult ones, and I am extremely grateful to all the team members for these unforgettable moments. »

2025: A New Chapter for Alpine

The year 2025 marks a turning point for Alpine. Jack Doohan joins Pierre Gasly as a full-time driver. The Australian took his first steps in F1 by replacing Ocon during the last GP of the season. The reserve drivers are being reshuffled with Paul Aron, Ryo Hirakawa, and Franco Colapinto; the latter is expected to replace Doohan if he does not meet expectations in the first few GPs. After Colapinto’s impressive performances with Williams in 2024, Alpine is determined to develop the potential of its new driver.

Regarding the engine, with Viry-Châtillon having ceased production of engines for Formula 1 after 50 years of dedicated service, the team based in Enstone has decided to turn to Mercedes for the year 2026. Alpine is thus betting on the fact that the regulatory changes for 2026 might favor teams equipped with Mercedes engines, according to rumors from the German manufacturer. Alpine would not have opted for Mercedes if it hadn’t deemed it advantageous in the long term, especially considering its own program related to the new engine rules, which has since been abandoned.

There is therefore one season left for Alpine-Renault to show that it is capable of maintaining its end-of-season momentum in an increasingly tight competition.