After four rollercoaster years filled with managerial changes, driver shuffles, and high expectations, Alpine entered the 2025 Formula 1 season hoping to finally turn a corner. With veteran F1 manager Flavio Briatore back at the helm alongside Oliver Oakes, and strong pre-season testing performances, fans dared to believe that Alpine’s long run as F1’s underachievers might be over.

But the reality on and off the track told a very different story. Alpine struggled with lackluster car performance while also facing a series of bizarre off-track incidents, including a driver demotion, Oakes’ sudden departure, and a Dubai-related controversy. Coupled with a revolving door of second drivers, Pierre Gasly teamed up first with Jack Doohan and later with Franco Colapinto, the 2025 season quickly turned into a cautionary tale.

High Point: Gasly Carries the Team

Pierre Gasly emerged as the standout performer for Alpine, proving himself indispensable despite the team’s challenges. The season began with promise in Melbourne, where Gasly made it into Q3 and looked poised to score points before finishing 11th behind a strong Ferrari lineup.

Bahrain offered another highlight, as Gasly qualified an impressive fifth and seemed set for a top-six finish until Max Verstappen overtook him in the closing laps, leaving Gasly seventh.

Throughout the year, Gasly consistently impressed despite the car’s limitations. An eighth-place finish in Spain was followed by a remarkable drive in the wet at Silverstone, securing his only top-six result of the season. He also added points in Spa and Interlagos, capping off a tough season that underscored Gasly’s value as Alpine’s key driver and one of F1’s reliable talents.

Low Point: Chaos Off and On the Track

While Gasly shone, Alpine’s second seat became a source of tension and instability. From the moment Franco Colapinto signed in January, speculation swirled about whether he would replace Jack Doohan, creating an uneasy atmosphere in the team.

Doohan had flashes of promise but struggled with mistakes, such as leaving DRS open at Turn 1 in Suzuka. His missteps, combined with Colapinto’s looming presence, meant that Doohan’s time in the car was always on shaky ground. After a collision on the opening lap in Miami, Doohan was demoted to reserve driver, with Colapinto stepping up.

Adding to the chaos, Oliver Oakes abruptly resigned midway through the season, leaving Briatore as the acting team principal. Oakes’ departure was linked to personal matters, including his brother’s arrest in Dubai, which, even if unrelated to Alpine, cast a shadow over the team. The combined effect of Oakes’s leaving and Doohan’s demotion derailed Alpine before the season could properly gain momentum.

Drivers’ Performance: Gasly, Colapinto, and Doohan

Gasly remained Alpine’s undisputed number one driver, extracting the most from the underperforming A525 car. Doohan, meanwhile, was under constant pressure, ultimately unable to maintain consistency, while Colapinto initially struggled but gradually improved over the summer. By the latter half of the season, Colapinto was narrowly missing points, finishing 11th at Zandvoort, but showed enough promise to build on for 2026. See more Photos

Team Leadership: Briatore’s Steady Hand

With Oakes gone, Briatore assumed full control while the team appointed Steve Nielsen, formerly of the FIA, as managing director. Briatore continued to wield significant influence over team decisions, while Nielsen focused on preparing Alpine for 2026.

Despite a minor scuffle at Austin, where Colapinto overtook Gasly in a battle for 17th place, defying team orders, the situation was quickly resolved. Overall, Briatore’s leadership kept Alpine from descending into complete chaos, though the lack of car development for the A525 left results stagnant.

Verdict: A Season to Forget

Alpine’s 2025 season resembled more of a dramatic TV series than a Formula 1 campaign. With Renault making its final appearance as Alpine’s engine supplier, the team delivered a disappointing farewell for the French manufacturer. The A525’s development freeze and off-track controversies meant that points were few and far between.

Pierre Gasly emerged as the true hero, proving his worth as the backbone of the team, while Colapinto showed flashes of potential that could blossom in 2026. Briatore’s experience helped navigate the storm, but questions remain about the team’s future direction and whether Alpine can rise from the bottom in the coming years under Nielsen’s leadership.

In short, Alpine’s 2025 season was a stark reminder that talent alone cannot overcome instability, and that F1 success requires both speed on the track and stability off it.

If you want, I can also create a shorter, punchy version suitable for a blog post that’s easier to read and optimized for online readers, kind of like a “news digest” style. This usually performs better for casual readers.

FAQs