Alpine reveals release date

Alpine is the first team to announce its launch date in 2023 with the covers to come off its A523 on Thursday, February 16.

The blue team is the fourth squad to confirm its launch date after AlphaTauri, Aston Martin and Ferrari all revealed its dates before the new year.

The reveal of last year’s Alpine was one of the most memorable as the team pulled off the rare feat of launching two liveries.

An all-pink car saluting new title sponsor BWT, which was used at Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, while the familiar bright blue scheme, synonymous with the French sports-car manufacturer was used for the remainder of the year.

Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso squabble in Saudi Arabia racing in the special all-pink cars. Photo by Steven Tee / LAT Images

There will be plenty of intrigue as to just how much pink Alpine will use and if it will run multiple liveries once again.

The French team enters 2023 with an all French lineup as Pierre Gasly joins Esteban Ocon, who is primed for his fourth season at Enstone.

Ocon has been one of the few contacts at Alpine in recent years and has gradually improved his results with an equal career best championship finish of eighth last season.

With Fernando Alonso’s shock switch to Aston Martin, the driver of car #31 will be determined to establish himself as the team’s lead driver.

But Gasly arrives at Alpine with plenty of hunger, racing out of the Red Bull umbrella for the first time.

Pierre Gasly drives the Alpine A522 during the Abu Dhabi November test. Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images

It is also the first time car #10 is at a front-running team having been the leader of AlphaTauri ever since being dropped by Red Bull halfway through the 2019 season.

The demotion did bring some success however, with Gasly sensationally winning the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, while he also scored podiums at Brazil 2019 and Azerbaijan 2021.

But 2022 was a step backwards for both Gasly and AlphaTauri scoring 87 less points than 2021.

Some are questioning how harmonious the Ocon and Gasly relationship will be at a crucial season for Alpine.

A strong development push helped the team overcome McLaren in a tight battle for fourth place in the constructors championship to cement itself as the leading midfield team.

Ocon and Alonso finished eighth and ninth in the drivers championship respectively last year, a big jump from 2021.

2023 Formula 1 car reveals

February 11: AlphaTauri

February 13: Aston Martin

February 14: Ferrari

February 16: Alpine 

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