Yesterday in Bahrain, not only Aston Martin and Haas were on track, but also Alpine, which ran its first kilometers under the Sakhir sun with the A525, the car it will use for the 2025 Formula 1 season.
The French team’s single-seater was one of the last to reveal its shape, as at the London presentation, only the livery had been shown, even in renders, leaving some mystery about the technical innovations debuting on the new car.
In Bahrain, the car completed its first laps during a classic filming day—an opportunity for teams not only to ensure all systems are in order and film the necessary footage for sponsors but also to start collecting initial aerodynamic data.
As per regulations, Alpine was allowed to complete 200 kilometers today, divided between its official drivers, Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan, the latter making his debut season despite having already participated in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the end of last year.
On the technical front, the car seems to inherit a lot from its predecessor, and it is no coincidence that, although not yet officially confirmed, the chassis is also expected to remain the same as last season’s, which had already been significantly revised during the winter break at the end of 2023.
The nose and front wing retain the design introduced with the last update package at the end of last season, with the nose resting on the second element rather than the first. The front suspension remains faithful to the push-rod configuration, closely resembling last year’s version.
The radiator inlets also follow the design already seen on the A525, without an “overbite” but featuring a “P” shape that combines a horizontal slit with a vertical one for Power Unit cooling. However, what has changed are the engine cover lines and, in particular, the hot air exhausts along the sidepods, which now have a recessed area just before the terminal bazookas, similar to Ferrari’s SF-24.
“It’s a great emotion to be back on track and drive the A525 for the first time. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to this car and all the hard work in preparing for this season. It’s just a shakedown, so we’re not pushing the car to its full potential, but the initial feelings were positive,” said Pierre Gasly at the end of the car’s first shakedown.
His teammate shared the same sentiment, as he debuted an F1 car for the first time, having previously only served as a reserve driver. However, thanks to behind-the-scenes work in TPC and Pirelli tests, the Australian already has solid experience in a top-tier single-seater.
“I’m sure all team members are really excited to be back and ready to start the season. It’s my first time driving in a shakedown, and it was a fantastic experience. The car felt good, so I thank everyone at Enstone and Viry-Châtillon for their time and dedication in preparing for 2025,” added Jack Doohan.
Team Principal Oliver Oakes also thanked all the team’s technicians for their commitment to building the A525, with which Alpine aims to take a step forward after a disappointing 2024, though the season ended on a positive note. Gasly stated that the French team’s goal for 2025 is to fight for fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship, positioning itself as the leading midfield team.
“It’s always a proud moment when a new car hits the track for the first time, so congratulations to everyone at Enstone and Viry for the hard work in developing the A525 ahead of this season. Despite the overcast sky and strong wind gusts, we had a good testing day in Bahrain, completing 200 km equally split between Pierre and Jack.”
“It’s important to give them their first runs and allow both to get an initial feel at the wheel ahead of the three days of testing this week. There are certainly several key areas for us to continue learning and progressing, and we’re eager to keep going.”
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