Oliver Oakes reflects on “huge effort at Enstone and Viry-Chatillon to prepare for 2025 F1 season”. The first words from Alpine's Team Principal after the presentation of the new A525 in London.

The new Alpine
The 2025 season officially kicked off at the F1 75 event at London’s O2 Arena, where all the teams unveiled their liveries. A unique off-track spectacle in Formula 1’s 75-year history, the event also featured Alpine among its participants. The French team’s main goal is to further improve on the solid performances achieved in the second half of last season, relying on its drivers and the new A525. The car features interesting aesthetic updates, with a blend of blue and pink colors alongside the team’s new sponsors.

The first full season at the helm
This new chapter is significant not only for the team but also for Oliver Oakes, who is entering his first full season as Alpine’s Team Principal. “Days like this always mark significant milestones in a Formula 1 season,” he explained after the car’s unveiling. “First and foremost, there has been an enormous effort at both our Enstone and Viry-Chatillon facilities to prepare for the year ahead. It will be crucial to keep making progress and push development as much as possible while maintaining focus on the regulatory changes for 2026 and the evolution of this package.”

Excitement to get started
With the new car revealed, Alpine’s next step will be pre-season testing later this month in Bahrain, where Pierre Gasly will take the wheel. “This time of the year is always very exciting because we are on the brink of a new season and get to see the final result of all the hard work done during the winter break. I’m heading into my eighth year in Formula 1, and I’m just as excited to start the season as I was when I made my debut in mid-2017. I’ve worked hard during the winter months to prepare, and I can’t wait to get on track next week to test the A525 for the first time.”

Ready for his debut, but…
Alpine is also experiencing one of the most unusual driver situations on the grid. As it stands, rookie Jack Doohan is set to be Pierre Gasly’s teammate, but the Australian could be replaced during the season by Franco Colapinto, who has been signed by Williams. “I’m looking forward to starting the 2025 season with the BWT Alpine Formula One Team and taking the step toward a full-time race seat,” said the son of five-time motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan. “Making my debut with the team last year in Abu Dhabi was a dream come true and a great opportunity to get familiar with the race weekend setup ahead of the new season. Now, I can’t wait to get back on track and test the A525 in Bahrain in preparation for my home race in Australia next month.”