Alpine's turbulent 2025 season ends with hard-earned lessons

A brutal reality check awaited Alpine as the chequered flag fell on the 2025 Formula 1 season. 

Last place in the constructors' championship, 22 points scored across 24 races, and the uncomfortable distinction of being the slowest car on track at multiple venues. 

Yet beneath the disappointing statistics lies a more nuanced story of calculated risk-taking and a driver pairing that offers genuine promise.

Pierre Gasly emerged as Alpine's unquestioned star performer, shouldering the entire burden of the team's points haul. The Frenchman's 22 championship points represented 100% of Alpine's tally.

Gasly's finest hour came at Silverstone, where a bold mid-race gamble on intermediate tyres during chaotic wet conditions delivered sixth place and Alpine's best result of the season.

His qualifying prowess shone despite the A525's fundamental limitations. Reaching Q3 on 11 occasions with such an uncompetitive package demonstrated exceptional speed, particularly his fifth-place qualifying effort in Bahrain where he came within 0.040 seconds of third place.

Franco Colapinto's debut campaign told a different story. The young Argentine, replacing Jack Doohan after just six rounds, failed to score a single point despite showing flashes of promise.

Doohan, before him, had his own struggles and seemed destined for a mid-season exit before his rookie campaign even got underway.

Colapinto's best finish was an 11th place at Zandvoort, where he narrowly missed out on his first points of the year.

The head-to-head battle saw Gasly dominate 13-5 in qualifying and 11-7 in races, reflecting both Gasly's experience and Colapinto's ongoing development.

A calculated gamble for future success

Alpine's decision to effectively surrender the 2025 championship fight by mid-season represented a strategic pivot that could define their trajectory for years to come. 

The team ceased development on the A525 early, redirecting all resources toward the revolutionary 2026 regulations that will reshape Formula 1's technical landscape.

This transition brings arguably the most significant change in Alpine's recent history: the switch from Renault to Mercedes power units. After years of underperformance from their works engine programme, the move to customer Mercedes engines offers genuine hope for competitive parity. 

The timing aligns perfectly with new power unit regulations that will nearly triple electrical energy capacity from 120 kW to 350 kW while eliminating the troublesome MGU-H system entirely.

Flavio Briatore's return as a consultant has brought renewed focus to long-term competitiveness.

The driver lineup remains unchanged for 2026, with both Gasly and Colapinto secured for the start of the new regulations cycle.

Gasly's commitment extends beyond 2026, reflecting his belief in the project's potential despite this season's struggles.

Technical director David Sanchez faces the challenge of maximising the expanded pre-season testing programme, with three separate three-day tests scheduled to accommodate the new chassis and engine regulations. 

The A526 launch on January 23 will mark Alpine's first public step toward recovery.

Alpine's 2025 season may have delivered its worst championship position in 44 years, but the strategic foundation for future success has been put in place.