The Alpine A525 has officially made its track debut in Bahrain as the team prepares for 2025 F1 pre-season testing.
The highly anticipated shakedown took place on February 24, just days before the start of pre-season testing. This event follows the unveiling of the car’s striking blue and pink livery at London’s O2 Arena during the F1 75 Live event, which showcased Alpine’s design evolution and new sponsorships.
The Alpine A525 represents a pivotal moment for the team as it enters its fifth season in Formula 1 since rebranding from Renault. The new car is also set to be the last powered by Renault engines, with the outfit transitioning to Mercedes power units in 2026.
The 2025 F1 challenger is equipped with a Mecachrome-built Renault E-Tech RE25 1.6L V6 turbocharged engine paired with advanced kinetic and thermal energy recovery systems.
This combination reflects the Anglo-French team’s commitment to pushing technological boundaries while adhering to Formula 1’s stringent regulations.
The Alpine A525 shakedown in Bahrain was conducted under the sport’s filming day restrictions, limiting running to less than 200 kilometers.
Gasly and Doohan excited to sample the A525
Drivers Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan shared driving duties during the session, providing them with their first opportunity to experience the car on track.
Gasly, entering his third season with the Enstone based outfit, was excited to return to action describing the initial run as smooth and promising.
“It is a great feeling to be back on track and driving the A525 for the first time,” commented Gasly. “Congratulations to everyone who has contributed to this car and all the hard work that has gone into preparing the 2025 F1 season.
“It is only a shakedown, limited running, so it’s not like we are driving the car at its full potential but the initial feeling felt smooth and I am just looking forward to getting going and having a proper run later this week for official pre-season testing.
“I must say, the new colours look really cool so I hope everyone enjoys seeing the Alpine A525 in action.”
Doohan, making his debut as a full-time Formula 1 driver, also shared his excitement about driving the A525 for the first time.
“We have had a good first day on-track here in Bahrain and I am sure everyone at the team feels really excited to be back and ready now to start the season,” the Australian rookie said.
“It is my first time driving a shakedown day so a great experience, especially driving on track with the filming vehicles! The car felt good so thanks to everyone at Enstone and Viry-Châtillon for their time and dedication in getting ready for 2025 F1.
“I know Pierre and I are really excited for Wednesday and beginning pre-season testing. It will be three busy days where we have many things to run through in order to develop the Alpine A525 ahead of the season start.”
Key changes to the Alpine A525
The Alpine A525 showcases several advancements aimed at improving performance and reliability.
It features Eni fuels and Valvoline lubricants for the first time, marking a departure from previous suppliers BP and Castrol. This change aligns with the team’s focus on optimizing every aspect of their operations to compete at the highest level.
Additionally, the car’s aerodynamic design incorporates lessons learned from previous seasons, with refinements intended to enhance speed and handling.
Visually, the A525 retains Alpine’s signature Bleu de France color scheme accented by pink highlights from title sponsor BWT. The livery reflects both tradition and modernity, symbolizing Alpine’s dual heritage as a French brand with global ambitions.
The addition of new sponsors such as MSC, OAKBERRY, Mercado Libre, Arctic Wolf, Castore, and MODO Casino further underscores the team’s growing commercial appeal.
As pre-season testing begins on February 26 at the same circuit in Bahrain, efforts are underway to gather critical data to fine-tune the Alpine A525 ahead of its competitive debut at the Australian Grand Prix.
Gasly and Doohan will alternate driving duties during the three-day test, working through an extensive program designed to evaluate various setups and components.
