Alpine has revealed its new car for the 2023 Formula 1 season at an event at the Printworks in London.
As last year, the team has presented its car in both a regular Alpine livery and a pink colour scheme based on that of title sponsor BWT. The team will use the pink livery for the first three races of the season.
It will be raced by Esteban Ocon, who is going into his fourth season with the team, and Pierre Gasly, who joins from AlphaTauri.
The Renault-owned brand moved up to fourth place in the constructors championship last year, but was unable to repeat the victory Ocon scored at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2021. It faces a stiff challenge to close the gap to the teams which finished ahead of it last year, as third-placed Mercedes scored almost three times as many points.
Renault CEO Luca de Meo said he is “optimistic” the team will continue to make gains during 2023. “We did progress the first two seasons,” he said. “I see that the team is coming together always stronger. So I hope that kind of trend will continue.
“Our ambition is to move closer to the top. We are here for the long-term. We are here to create top team. We are here to create a solid team.
“I have the feeling that, speaking to Laurent [Rossi, team CEO], to Otmar [Szafnauer, team principal], to Pat [Fry, chassis technical director], to everybody, that they are getting stronger and stronger together. I think they had a good time during the winter and they could work without a lot of issues.”
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He said the team’s goal is to “get closer to the top guys” in 2023. “We had a certain distance last year, I think it was what, 250 points, something like this.
“The gap is large, so we have room for for improvement. That’s our ambition. And maybe Esteban and Pierre get us a couple of podiums that will make our Sunday even more joyful.”
The A523 has already completed its first laps at Silverstone earlier this week. Ocon said the chance to drive the car already was a “little bonus.”
“It has been obviously sensational to be driving again,” he said. “All these hours of work from everyone from Viry to Enstone, thousands of people working to deliver this car. It’s just been great to just let it go out the garage, put full throttle for the first time. That gave me, obviously, the smile.”
Gasly said he was “extremely excited” to see the first Alpine car he will race. “What a beautiful, beautiful car.
“It’s a new beginning for me, the start of a new journey and I must say I’m extremely motivated and just cannot wait to hit the track.”
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Pictures: 2023 Alpine A523
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