Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly has praised the dramatic mid-season comeback of his team, Alpine, during the 2024 campaign as an unprecedented occurrence in his racing career. The start of the season was marred by a series of unfortunate events, as Alpine was beleaguered with a substandard package, ranking ninth on the F1 grid for a large part of the season.
In response to the crisis, Alpine underwent a significant reshuffle of its leadership. The shake-up saw the departure of Technical Director Matt Harman and Head of Aerodynamics Dirk de Beer in March. The reins of the technical department were then handed over to David Sanchez in May.
The restructuring continued with the return of Flavio Briatore to the Enstone team as Executive Advisor in June. Appointed by Renault Group CEO, Luca de Meo, Briatore’s mission was to streamline the operation, cut unnecessary expenses, and chart a path to a brighter future for the team.
Bruno Famin, the then-Team Principal, made his exit during the summer break, moving on to oversee the power unit wind down at Viry. His departure paved the way for the installation of Oliver Oakes as his successor.
Following these changes and with a new hierarchy in place, the team unveiled the upgraded Alpine A424 at the United States Grand Prix in October. Gasly quickly made his mark, consistently landing in the top-10. Thanks to a double victory at Interlagos, Alpine ascended from ninth to sixth position in the final Championship table, accruing a total of 51 points in the last four rounds.
In a media interaction ahead of the F1 75 launch event at the O2 Arena in London, Gasly expressed his gratitude for the newfound stability at Alpine. He commented on the positive shift in the team’s mindset and spirit under the leadership of Oakes and Briatore, and praised their efforts in challenging and pushing all departments to deliver their best.
The single-season evolution and dramatic turnaround, Gasly noted, were unlike anything he had ever witnessed in his F1 stint. However, he acknowledged that Alpine was still on a long journey to the top. Drawing attention to the team’s aspirations to improve upon their sixth position in the standings, Gasly spoke about the upcoming rule changes and the switch from OEM to Mercedes power unit customer as potential catalysts for further progress.
Despite the scale of the task ahead, Gasly expressed confidence in Briatore and Oakes’ ability to fulfill Alpine’s ambitions. He remarked, “Flavio is a competitor. He’s in F1 to win. I’m in F1 to win. Oli is in F1 to bring the team to the top and also to win.” Highlighting the prevailing positive attitude in the team, he concluded that they were indeed moving in the right direction.
In their quest to ascend the F1 grid, Alpine will be unveiling a vibrant livery for the 2025 F1 season. Will this be the year they make their mark? Only time will tell.
