Alpine reveal A522 featuring blue and pink livery

Alpine has unveiled a revised blue and pink livery on its 2022 Formula 1 car ahead of this week’s first pre-season test in Barcelona.

The French outfit finished fifth in the constructors’ championship in its first year racing under Renault’s sister car brand, albeit with 26 less points than its 2020 total.

While it failed to keep in touch with some its main midfield rivals over the 22-race season, Alpine did secure its maiden victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix – the team’s first since Japan 2008.

The return of Fernando Alonso was a major story in F1 last year, as the Spaniard reunited with the Enstone-based squad whom he won both of his world championships with in 2005 and 2006 for a third spell.

Alonso’s experience proved an invaluable asset, particularly as he played a vital role in Alpine’s win in Hungary, when he defended robustly against Lewis Hamilton and scored his first podium in seven years in Qatar.

Alonso, who finished 10th in the drivers’ standings in 2021, partners Esteban Ocon for a second successive campaign, with the pair developing a strong partnership on and off the track.

Ocon became F1’s newest grand prix winner after his triumph in Hungary, and his impressive form last year saw Alpine reward him with a multi-year deal.

At the team’s launch event in Paris, Alpine revealed a tweaked livery for the new season on a showcar that features the pink colours of new title sponsor BWT.

The Austrian water firm, who was a previous partner of Aston Martin, signed a sponsorship deal that will see Alpine incorporate pink into its colour scheme.

Alpine has also undergone some changes to its senior management following the departure of executive director Marcin Budkowski and special advisor Alain Prost over the winter.

The Enstone-based outfit has hired ex-Aston Martin team boss Otmar Szafnauer as its new team principal, under a new structure formed by CEO Laurent Rossi.

Alpine is the ninth team on this year’s grid to unveil its 2022 car, with only Alfa Romeo left to present its design to meet the new regulations.

The team will hand the A522 its on-track debut on Tuesday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya before an extended run-out when pre-season testing begins in Spain from February 23-25.