Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan shakedown Alpine’s 2025 challenger ahead of F1 testing

Alpine struggled out of the gate during the 2024 Formula 1 season. The A524, their challenger for the 2024 campaign, came in overweight and lacked performance early in the year. That saw Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly at the back of the grid in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. While Alpine dramatically reversed their stars, rising to finish sixth in the Constructors’ Championship, they hope to get out to a better start in 2025.

The first step in that journey is complete.

Alpine put the A525, their 2025 challenger, through a shakedown session in Bahrain ahead of pre-season testing later this week. Both Gasly and incoming rookie Jack Doohan seemed pleased with the results, as did Team Principal Oliver Oakes.

“It is a great feeling to be back on track and driving the A525 for the first time. Congratulations to everyone who has contributed to this car and all the hard work that has gone into preparing this season,” said Gasly in the team’s post-session report.

“It is only a shakedown, limited running, so it’s not like we are driving the car at its full potential but the initial feeling felt smooth and I am just looking forward to getting going and having a proper run later this week for official pre-season testing. I must say, the new colors look really cool so I hope everyone enjoys seeing the A525 in action.”

Alpine’s 2025 livery, with an increase in pink, debuted at F1 75 Live to rave reviews from F1 fans.

“We have had a good first day on-track here in Bahrain and I am sure everyone at the team feels really excited to be back and ready now to start the season,” said Doohan. “It is my first time driving a shakedown day so a great experience, especially driving on track with the filming vehicles! The car felt good so thanks to everyone at Enstone and Viry-Châtillon for their time and dedication in getting ready for 2025.

“I know Pierre and I are really excited for Wednesday and beginning pre-season testing. It will be three busy days where we have many things to run through in order to develop the A525 ahead of the season start.”

Oakes described seeing the A525 on the track as a “moment of pride.” The Alpine boss is set to partake in his first F1 pre-season experience at the helm, having taken over during the summer shutdown last year.

“It is always a moment of pride when a new car goes on track for the first time so well done to everyone at Enstone and Viry-Châtillon for their hard work in developing the A525 ahead of this season,” reported Oakes. “Despite the overcast and strong gusts of wind, we have had a good day’s running in Bahrain with 200km completed split evenly between Pierre and Jack. It is important to give them a first go each and allow them both to have a first feeling at the wheel ahead of a busy three days of testing later this week.

“There are certainly multiple areas of interest for us to keep learning and progressing and we look forward to continuing the hard work beginning on Wednesday with Jack driving the morning and Pierre the afternoon.”

Alpine also released their schedule for testing on Monday, and Doohan will be in the cockpit for the first session on Wednesday, with Gasly to follow in the afternoon. The veteran driver gets the morning slot on Thursday followed by Doohan, with the team reverting to Wednesday’s schedule for the final day of testing.