Alpine F1 Team unveils new A523 challenger

Alpine capped Formula 1's final week of team presentations on Thursday with the unveiling of its 2023 contender, the A523.

Ahead of this evening's presentation in London, Alpine conducted a shake down of its new car during a filming day at Silverstone on Monday but had yet to reveal its new design to the public.

Alpine says its A523 is a significant evolution from its predecessor, the A522, which has seen radical development over the winter months, led hand in hand by the design and technical teams at its bases in Enstone, United Kingdom and Viry-Châtillon, France.

Like last year, Alpine showcased two liveries during its presentation with its car declined in its traditional Alpine blue and pink colors but also in an all-pink robe courtesy of its principal partner BWT.

The team also confirmed that it would run its reversed, full pink livery for the opening three Grand Prix of the season in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia.

Alpine's A523 will be entrusted this year to an all-French line-up that will consist of Esteban Ocon, who heads into his fourth season with the Enstone squad, and recruit Pierre Gasly who arrives from AlphaTauri and replaces Fernando Alonso.

During their formative years in motorsport, as childhood karting foes in Normandy, there was no love lost between the two young chargers and their rapport remained icy at the start of their careers in F1.

However, while much has been written about their personal history, it's all water under the bridge for Ocon and Gasly who have committed to working productively together in their mutual interest and, more importantly, in the interest of their team.

Alpine is the first French outfit to field two French drivers since Ligier in 1994, who back then ran Erik Comas and Eric Bernard.

"It’s always a feeling of immense pride when we officially unveil our car for the upcoming season," commented Alpine CEO, Laurent Rossi.

"Since Alpine joined the Formula 1 grid in 2021, I’ve been eager to see continued progress and tick off each season and each milestone as they come.

"Ultimately, we at Alpine are driven by a natural desire to race and that is etched in the company’s heritage and will remain at the heart of our motorsport projects for many years to come."

Once again, Alpine efforts in F1 will be managed by team principal Otmar Szafnauer.

"This time of the year is often filled with both excitement and anticipation ahead of a new Formula 1 season," said the American.

"It was a fantastic feeling to reach our objectives in 2022 by finishing in a well-deserved fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship; a healthy and significant milestone on our 100-race plan as outlined by Laurent at the beginning of the season.

"We have just under 80 races left on this mission and I’m proud to lead the team on this journey.

"For 2023, the aim is simple: at a minimum, we must finish in fourth and in a much more convincing fashion. By that, it means, more finishes, more points and less unforced retirements.

"I have high expectations from everyone in the team – not least Esteban and Pierre – who will work collaboratively to deliver the best possible results for the team."

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