BWT Alpine F1 Team unveiled its 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship contender today – the A523 – in front of a start-studded live audience at London’s Printworks as the team gets set to compete in Formula 1’s 23-race global campaign.
Buoyed by its clear trajectory in the Championship having finished fifth in 2021 and fourth in 2022, Alpine enters 2023 with bold targets as it continues its climb towards the front of the grid within the 100-race plan.
The A523 is a significant evolution from its predecessor, the A522, which has seen radical development over the winter months, led hand in hand by the design and technical teams at its bases in Enstone, United Kingdom and Viry-Châtillon, France.
The car livery is yet again a striking design, combining the iconic colours of Alpine blue with the dashing pink of the team’s title partner BWT. On the night, the team also confirmed its reversed, full pink livery for the opening three Grand Prix of the season in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia.
Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo and Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi attended the event to unveil the car to the world as well as reaffirming the ambitions and strategy behind Alpine’s presence in Formula 1 in line with Renault Group’s Renaulution framework.
The team officially unveiled its new 2023 driver line-up in team colours for the first time with Esteban Ocon – in his fourth year at the team – joined by compatriot Pierre Gasly who was announced as an BWT Alpine F1 Team driver last October. The pairing is an emotional and compelling story, given the duo grew up in Normandy and first met as aspiring race drivers at nine years of age. Since then, both Esteban and Pierre have risen through the racing ranks to Formula 1 – each picking up a landmark Grand Prix victory – and now together to lead the only French team on the Formula 1 grid.
Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer begins his second year at the helm having helped guide the team to its impressive fourth place in the 2022 Constructors’ Championship. Otmar was joined by Technical Director Matt Harman who outlined the team’s design philosophy in enhancing the A523, as well as explaining how both sites across Enstone – for chassis – and Viry – for the power unit – have worked hand in hand to improve the team’s overall package.
Jack Doohan becomes the team’s official Reserve Driver for 2023 alongside his duties in racing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship.
Esteban and Pierre have enjoyed a busy pre-season preparing for the demands of the 23-race calendar and drove the A523 for the first time on Monday in the team’s official filming day at Silverstone.
Both drivers will again share duties at the upcoming Formula 1 pre-season test in Bahrain before the first race of the season in Sakhir takes place on March 5.
