In an unexpected move, Alpine has decided to repurpose its 2024 chassis for the A525. This decision comes as the final season of the current chassis regulations looms, with the landmark F1 2025 season requiring teams to juggle their current development responsibilities alongside the creation of completely new chassis to meet the transformational 2026 regulations.
The strategy of reusing extant chassis, particularly when the design of the next vehicle follows an evolutionary path, is a cost-saving measure teams are considering. Alpine has joined the ranks of those adopting this approach, with plans to continue using parts of its 2024 chassis for the 2025 A525 design.
With 2025 viewed as a transition year for many teams, the focus is split between maximizing the performance of their 2025 vehicles and crafting entirely new machines to meet the revamped chassis regulations for 2026. While teams with championship aspirations are likely to put extra effort into their 2025 designs, others see this year as a stepping stone towards the new rules, ramping up their efforts to hit the ground running in 2026. Alpine seems to fall into the latter category.
Hints of Alpine’s strategy emerged on social media. An adhesive label on the A525, carrying the chassis number A525-05, suggested that the first four chassis for the A525 were already in existence. Insider sources have since confirmed this, indicating that the A525 is an evolved version of the previous year’s car, with all four predecessor chassis remaining in rotation. The goal is to build upon the progress achieved towards the end of the last season.
This strategy mirrors the approach taken in 2021, the final year of the previous regulation cycle, when teams reused their 2020 chassis as a cost-saving measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. This season, Alpine is following a similar route.
The decision to repurpose the 2024 chassis will help Alpine cut production costs related to creating new chassis for the A525, freeing up funds for development for the 2026 season. In the previous season, Alpine’s Technical Director, David Sanchez, unveiled significant upgrades to the A524 at the Belgian and United States Grand Prix. These evolutions, which helped Alpine ascend to become upper midfield runners and occasional podium finishers, will form the core of the 2025 car.
During the launch of the A525’s 2025 livery at a team event in London, Sanchez applauded the team’s efforts in developing the ambitious A525 while keeping an eye on future developments. The A525 is an improved version of the A524, with refinements aimed at enhancing performance. Sanchez expressed satisfaction with the progress so far and hopes to maximize the evolution of the car and push the overall package to its ultimate potential.
2025 marks the final year that Alpine will use the Renault power unit before switching to Mercedes power for the new regulation cycle. The decision to hold onto the 2024 chassis suggests that team boss Oli Oakes and executive advisor Flavio Briatore are ready to devote more resources to meet the substantial challenges that the 2026 regulations will bring.
