The Alpine F1 Team, formerly known as Renault, has made its mark in the high-octane world of Formula 1 racing. As a constructor, the team blends innovation, performance, and strategic expertise to compete at the highest level of motorsport. This article will explore the team’s history, achievements, and key figures contributing to its growth and evolution. From its origins under the Renault banner to its rebranding as Alpine, the team’s journey highlights the drive for excellence and the passion for racing that fuels its pursuit of success on the global stage.
Table of Contents
About Alpine F1 Team
Alpine F1 is a French racing team with a fascinating history. The team was founded in 1971 as the Equipe Renault Elf and has undergone several name changes over the last few decades. 2016 the team was renamed Renault Sport Formula One Team after Renault returned to Formula One as a constructor. In 2021, the team was rebranded again as the Alpine F1 Team we know today. The Alpine F1 team is based in Enstone, United Kingdom.
When the team was formerly known as Renault, it won two Constructors’ Championships in 2005 and 2006, with its former driver, Fernando Alonso, winning the Drivers’ Championship in both consecutive years. In Alpine F1, the team has had one victory and three podiums in total. It placed fourth in the Constructors Championship in 2022. The 2023 season looks promising for the team, and they are the ones to watch in the top four teams.
Logo
With the rebranding of a new name also came a new logo to represent Renault’s new Alpine F1 team. The Alpine design team decided to go with a straightforward and classic design for the rebranding, simply having a big Blue capital A as their logo. This logo is easily recognisable, and this year, the team’s bright pink colours make them stand out clearly on the grid amongst the other Formula One cars.
Team Principal
2023 will be Otmar Szafnauer’s second season as team principal for the BWT Alpine Team. After a very successful F1 season in 2022, placing fourth in the Constructors, all eyes will be on Szafnauer this season to see if he can repeat or improve the team’s success. He started his career in motorsport in 1989 when he was hired as Ford’s manager of racing programs. While working for Ford, he went to the Jim Russell Racing Driver School, where he worked as a Formula Ford and Formula 2000 driver. The Romain-American engineer began his Formula 1 journey in 1998 as the first British American Racing Operations Director (BAR).
Soon after, he became vice president of racing development at Honda and a member of the Honda F1 team’s board of directors member. In 2009, he decided to join the F1 team Force India, where he succeeded in placing the team in top-five finishes for three consecutive years. He stayed with the team for two years after they were renamed Racing Point. Before joining Alpine in 2022, he also led the Aston Martin team for a year. With much experience and good performances, Szafnauer had much to prove when replacing Marcin Budkowski. He rose to the challenge and moved Alpine up one spot from 2021, placing the team fourth in the constructors.
Alpine F1 Drivers
Alpine F1 drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly are the only French driving pair on the Formula One grid. Both drivers have a long history of driving together, competing against each other karting in the French Minime Championship. Neither of these drivers has had a smooth sailing and straightforward career in Formula One, but their sheer determination and talent have proven them as competitors on the F1 grid.
Esteban Ocon
Born 17 September 1996 in Évreux, France, Esteban Ocon always wanted to become an F1 driver. The French driver won the Formula 3 European Championship in 2014 and the GP3 Series in 2015. Esteban Ocon made his F1 debut with the Manor team in 2016 when he replaced Rio Haryanto at the Belgian Grand Prix. Ocon was impressed as he was offered a full-time seat in 2017 with Force-India, where he joined teammate Sergio Perez. Ocon was replaced by Lance Stroll in 2019 due to Lance’s father, Lawrence Strolls’s support in Force-India’s finances. Although this was a knock for Ocon, he did not let it crush his F1 dreams.
He spent his year hiatus as a reserve driver for Mercedes, and in 2020, he was offered a seat by Renault, which became Alpine the following year. He partnered up with Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo. He took his maiden F1 podium this same year at the Sakhir Grand Prix, placing second, and the following year, when the team rebranded as Alpine, he took his maiden victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Arguably, he had one of his most successful and consistent F1 seasons, with Alpine finishing 8th in the Drivers Championship. In 2023, Ocon secured his third podium at the Monaco Grand Prix.
The French driver uses the driving number 31.
Ocon Statistics
| Poduims | 3 |
| Points | 370 |
| Highest Race finish | 1 |
| Highest Grid Position | 3 |
Pierre Gasly
Even more so than his teammate, Pierre Gasly, has had quite a tumultuous F1 career. Gasly began his F1 career as a reserve driver for Red Bull Racing in 2015. He finally made his F1 debut at the Malaysian Grand Prix, replacing Daniel Kvyat for Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2017. The following year, he was offered a full-time seat in the F1 World Championship, driving for Toro Rosso. After a successful year, the French driver was offered a seat at Red Bull Racing to replace Daniel Ricciardo. Unfortunately, Gasly did not live up to Red Bull Racing standards or expectations, and the pressure of partnering and being compared to the Number one driver, Max Verstappen, proved too much.
After the Summer break, Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, sent Gasly back to Toro Rosso and replaced him with Alex Albon. However, this setback only motivated Gasly to prove his worth, and in his return to Toro Rosso, the Frenchman secured P2 at the Brazilian Grand Prix. The following year, he earned his maiden win at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, driving for the renamed AlphaTauri team. 2021 also proved a successful year for the driver at AlphaTauri, however in 2022, Gasly decided to change the new BWT Alpine team. 2023 will be his first season with BWT Alpine.
Gasly’s driving number is number 10.
Gasly Statistics
| Poduims | 3 |
| Points | 340 |
| Highest Race finish | 1 |
| Highest Grid Position | 2 |
Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso joined the BWT Alpine F1 team for their first two seasons in Formula One after a two-year hiatus from Formula One. Alonso is rated as one of the best Formula One drivers on the grid. The Spanish driver has a long history with Renault, racing for them in the early 2000s and setting many records. He was once F1’s youngest polesitter, race winner, world champion and double world champion. Like all F1 drivers, Alonso began his F1 career in karting. He had many successes in his early career, winning the Spanish karting championship in 1993 and the Junior World Championship in 1996.
F1 driver Adrian Campos gave Alonso his break into F1, his first test in a racing car with the Nissan team. Soon after, he progressed to Formula 3000, and in 2001, Alonso made his F1 debut with Minardi. The 2023 F1 season has been a massive success for Alonso, who is now driving for Aston Martin. Currently, he stands in third place with 93 points, and his team, Aston Martin, is placed in second place with 120 points, one point ahead of the Mercedes F1 team. Alonso has proven his superiority in F1 over the years, winning the 24h de Le Mans twice and Daytona 24.
Alonso has used the driving number 14 since he was 14 years old.
Alonso Statistics
| Poduims | 103 |
| Points | 2154 |
| Highest Race Finish | 1(x32) |
| Highest Grid Position | 1 |
| World Championship | 2 |
Alpine F1 Car 2023
In 2023, BWT Alpine revealed its brand new design to the world of Formula One- the A523. Alpine had to consider the new Formula 1 regulations implemented in 2022 when designing the A523. The A522 brought them to fourth place in the Constructors Championship, leaving big shoes to be filled for the A523.
The A523 is visually appealing with its vivid colouring, pairing Alpine’s traditional blue with the eye-catching pink of the team’s main sponsor, BWT. Alpine released their two new liveries at their conference in February 2023, showcasing one car with a more prominent Alpine blue colour, while the other notable in pink. The new Alpine automobile has undergone numerous feature modifications in addition to visual ones.
The Alpine team set themselves many targets for the 2023 season, and they feel that the A523 is their best solution to reaching these targets. The central plain of the front wing and the nose concept have been redesigned to give more freedom to change elements of the front wing and to control the airflow more consistently into the front suspension area. The front suspension works differently on the A523 than on the A522; the wishbone’s positions have been changed to better control the airflow.
The bodywork has also changed by creating a deep gully that will again allow the mass flow of the air to the back of the car, improving the energy at the vehicle’s rear. The power unit has been enhanced to be much more reliable than the A522. The cooling system has also been reduced. The rear suspension is one of the most significant changes in the A523, having changed from a pull rod suspension to a push rod suspension to take some weight out of the car and to control the airflow cleaner. The rear wing has been designed more efficiently by optimising the beam wing to create less drag.
Alpine F1 Achievements
ALPINE RAC(H)ER
The Rac(H)er programme was created by Alpine in 2022. The Rac(H)er program aims to strengthen and diversify every business department. The idea of the Rac(H)er programme is to put forward a plan to improve the diversity of talent within Alpine, from racing drivers to engineering and technical jobs. The Alpine team has made a life-long commitment to diversifying its staff. According to Alpine, females make up only 12% of its workforce. They have said that the programme will start with an investment in local STEM programmes that encourage women to enter technical and scientific fields.
They also plan on implementing mentoring programmes to support women in their chosen careers. They aim to increase their diversity from 12% females in 2022 to 30% females within 5 years. Alpine will begin by recruiting 50-50% male-female trainees and graduates to do this. The Rac(H)er programme aims to identify young female karters who want to enter Formula 1. To promote the development of these talented females, this program will use a thorough roadmap to lay out testing plans, racing plans, physical training plans, and mental training programs.
Achievements Throughout the Years
The BWT Alpine F1 team, known as Renault, had many achievements. In 2005 and 2006, Fernando Alonso led the team to two consecutive Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships. At the time, Alonso was also the youngest driver to win the title at 24. Renault had many successful drivers, including Alain Prost, Daniel Ricciardo, and Nico Hulkenberg, who drove for them. Since the rebranding, Alpine has also had many achievements quickly.
Since their debut race at the Bahrain Grand Prix until this article, the BWT Alpine F1 team has driven in 50 Grand Prix. Out of these 50 races, they have won one and three podiums. Their best championship finish as a team has been in outstanding fourth place, and their best championship finish for an Alpine driver has been in 8th place, as achieved by Esteban Ocon. The BWT Alpine F1 team have gained 365 points to date. They have also placed in the top 10 finishes 67 times in the last three seasons.
Alpine F1 Merchandise
If you are an Alpine F1 fan looking for merchandise to show your support, then we have you covered. Below, we have gathered all the best websites where you can get Alpine Merchandise to show the world who you support on the F1 grid. From memorabilia to clothing, you can choose from many different Alpine items.
F1 Store Front
The F1 store has various Alpine F1 merchandise for sale on their website. They also often have good discounts, so it is an excellent option for more high-priced merchandise that you have your eye on. Fans can get polo shirts, drivers’ t-shirts, softshell jackets, rain jackets, caps, gilets and hoodies in the colours that reflect the Alpine brand: white, navy and blue. The website also sells model cars and backpacks—everything an Alpine fan needs to complete their collection. Prices can vary from under €20 to up and over €150.
Fans Brand
Fans Brand is another website that sells Motorsport merchandise. Fans can also buy Alpine pants, t-shirts, polo shirts, caps, sweatshirts, jackets and dresses! The store often has 10% selected items such as caps and hats. If you have an Alpine F1 fan, this is a great stocking filler at Christmas. Prices can vary from the mid-30s up to over €200.
Alpine Store
On this website, fans can buy Alpines clothing in collaboration with Kappa. Here, you can buy printed t-shirts, jerseys, bodywarmers, shorts, neck warmers, posters of the driver’s helmets, bucket hats, caps, backpacks, socks and shoes, books, keyrings and facemasks. Prices vary from €9 up to €250. This collection is unique to Alpine and very popular among Alpine Formula One fans.
Fuel For Fans
Official Alpine F1 team merchandise can be bought on the Fuel for Fans website. They supply fans with team and driver caps, T-shirts and polo shirts, Alpine hoodies, jackets, and sweaters. Fans can also get 20% off with their first order. Prices for Formula One merchandise vary from €5 up to €300.
Alpine F1 Media
You have plenty of media options if you want to keep up to date with the BWT Alpine team’s progress and news throughout the year. For any F1 fan, there is the option to listen to the podcast F1:Beyond the Grid to hear exclusive interviews with Alpine drivers and team members.
Website
The Alpine Media website uploads press releases every few days, keeping fans updated on performances in qualifying, grand prix results and upcoming races. Fans can also read about Alpines partnerships, accreditations and mentoring schemes. The press releases give statements by the BWT Alpine F1 team, giving fans an insight into the Alpine team’s feelings. You can read quotations from drivers Galsy and Ocon and team members such as sporting director Alan Permane, Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi and team principal Otmar Szafnauer, to name a few.
Social Media
The BWT Alpine F1 team can also be found on many social media accounts so that you can follow them on your preferred application.
Alpine Instagram account @alpinef1team posts many updates about the team daily. The media team allows followers to see amazing photos of the racers and the Alpine team behind the scenes in the pit, as still pictures of races and cars. They also upload videos inside the driver’s seat and the communication between drivers and the team. It also keeps fans updated with qualifying results and races on their stories. They save their race updates as highlights on their Instagram for fans to look back whenever they please.
The Alpine Twitter account @Alpinef1team uploads posts similar to those on Instagram but with extra content. The Alpine media team lets their sense of humour fly on Twitter, often posting memes of the drivers. The Alpine Twitter page gives more up-to-date information during races, uploading the drivers’ positioning every few laps. They also document pitstops and other activities/reactions happening inside the pit.
The Alpine team’s Facebook page is similar to its Instagram account. It uploads results and some behind-the-scenes photos, but unlike the Twitter page, it doesn’t update results and positionings as they happen. Nevertheless, it is still a great social media site for seeing updates on Alpine and what is happening within the team.
TikTok
If you like watching videos and TikTok is your primary media source, follow the Alpine F1 team’s page. Here, you will get exclusive videos of the drivers and can ask the drivers and team questions via the comments. Through these videos, you can see exactly what Alpine is like as a team. Gasly and Ocon also participate in TikTok trends and challenges and make funny videos. You also see their lives on the grid, such as in the driver’s rooms. You also get footage of inside Enstone. This is a must-follow for Alpine fans who crave behind-the-scenes footage.
If you enjoyed this article, you may be interested in other F1 articles on our page, such as Mercedes F1, McLaren F1, Scuderia Ferrari, and Drive to Survive.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Alpine F1 Team is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of motorsport excellence. Through its rich history, from its roots as Renault to its transformation into Alpine, the team has continued to evolve, pushing the boundaries of performance and technology. With a strong foundation built on decades of experience and the talent of its drivers and engineers, Alpine remains a competitive force in Formula 1. As the team looks ahead, the future promises further advancements and the potential for even more outstanding achievements on the world stage.