Alpine has become the latest team to announce the launch date for its 2023 Formula 1 car.
The Enstone-based team finished fourth in the constructors’ standings last year – its best finish since 2018 – after coming out on top in a season long battle with McLaren.
Despite not reaching the same heights as its win at the previous years Hungarian Grand Prix, Alpine’s 2022 challenger proved a consistent package, scoring points in 19 of the 22 races.
Esteban Ocon ended the season as the team’s highest points scorer, outscoring world champion team-mate Fernando Alonso by 11 points and claiming Alpine’s best result of fourth at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Alonso’s campaign was blighted by mechanical issues that saw him retire from six grand prix’s, but the Spaniard secured a first front row start in a decade in Canada.
Alonso won’t be a part of Alpine’s driver line-up following his move to Aston Martin, with one-time grand prix winner Pierre Gasly drafted in to replace him.
Gasly will team up Ocon in an all-French line-up that reunites the pair who have made public at their long feud that harkens back to their karting days.
His arrival came after Alpine failed in its bid to re-sign Alonso and promote reserve driver Oscar Piastri, who instead signed a deal to race for McLaren.
The Piastri saga was taken to the Contract Recognition Board who ruled in McLaren’s favour, leading to Alpine’s pursuit of Gasly despite him already being confirmed as an AlphaTauri driver for 2023.
Alpine revealed details of the launch of the A523, with the car set to be unveiled in London on February 16 one week before pre-season testing starts in Bahrain.
The French manufacturer is the fourth team to announce its launch plans after AlphaTauri, Aston Martin and Ferrari, who all confirmed a February date for their 2023 car launches.
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