“I’m very happy to be here today. I’m very happy to be a part of this team.” Photo: capture.
The BWT Alpine F1 Team presented in London the A523 single-seater with which the French drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly will compete next season in Formula One, in addition to announcing that former footballer and coach Zinedine Zidane will be brand ambassador.
“We achieved great results last year, we were in the top-10 constantly. It’s been a good winter. We want to progress, go faster, catch up with the first three teams. We are very proud of the work we have done. It has been sensational to be driving again, all the hours of work with the team to develop this car”, explained Ocon, who is still behind the wheel.
for his part Gasly, who occupies the seat left empty by the Spanish Fernando Alonso after his departure to Aston Martin, indicated: “I am very excited, it is a very nice car. It’s a new journey and I’m very excited. It’s going to be very special. We will write a great story together, hopefully it will be satisfying.”
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“Alpine had a great season last year, they showed great evolution throughout the year. The objective is to consolidate as fourth and reduce the distance with third parties. We have tried to develop the car as much as we could. I am very excited, it is a great project and I believe in it. From what I have seen there is great potential. We have the human resources and it is about putting them to work, I am sure that the results will come ”, he added.
Here we have the Alpine #A523
here we are @AlpineF1Team A523#F1 pic.twitter.com/CBZ31rT2ns
—Albert Fabrega (@AlbertFabrega) February 16, 2023
The event was opened by the intervention of Luca de Meo CEO Renault Group: “Two years ago the company was in a very bad situation. We had to find a solution and it was to put the Formula 1 team at the center of a great project. The message is that motorsports and Formula 1 are an important part of a great story.”
“I think we made progress the first two seasons. I see that the team has come back stronger and that progress will continue. Our ambition is to be closer to the top. We are here for the long term, to create a top and solid team. I am optimistic with continuing the path. I hope we can be close to those above. We have room to grow, it is our ambition. We hope that Esteban and Pierre can get a couple of podiums”, he stated.
Zinedine Zidane was appointed as the new Alpine ambassador at the team’s presentation of its new car. The aim of the association is “to promote equal opportunities in sport and the automotive industry”. pic.twitter.com/ZUn91R5dI7
— VarskySports (@VarskySports) February 16, 2023
In addition, Omar Szafnauer, team manager, also came out on the podium: “The distance to third was great and we have to reduce it. To achieve this we must develop more if possible than the rest of the Formula 1 teams, which is not easy.
“We reached the goal we were looking for last year, but unfortunately it had to be in the last race. We are not yet where we want to be, but we will get there. This year we want fewer disqualifications, more points, hopefully some podiums and getting closer to third while moving away from fifth. We have a couple of drivers that can get it done,” he stated.
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As for the single-seaters, two models could be seen, one in pink with which the first tests of the season will be run and another with a greater presence of blue that will take over. The details of the design were reported by Matt Harman, technical director, who explained that there have been modifications in almost all parts, including the “Power Unit”: “We had problems there last year. We have worked to know that we will have reliability. Now we are very confident.”
The final coup d’état was the announcement of Zinedine Zidane, former French international and former Real Madrid player and coach., as an ambassador for Alpine. He expressed his happiness for joining the project: “I am very happy to be here today. I am very happy to be part of this team.”
