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Oliver Oakes: Alpine has every reason to be “optimistic”

After late progress, Alpine is looking optimistically towards 2025: Team Principal Oliver Oakes and driver Pierre Gasly praise technical and structural improvements

For Alpine, the 2024 Formula One season was a year of ups and downs, but team principal Oliver Oakes sees every reason to look to the future with optimism. With important insights from the second half of the season and a positive development curve, the team is already planning ambitiously for 2025.

Oakes is particularly pleased with the late updates to the car, especially the major revision package in Austin and the new front wing in Qatar.

“I think these innovations have really paid off,” he says, emphasizing that the late developments have brought clear progress. According to Oakes, these successes give the team a ‘real basis for optimism’ for 2025.

At the same time, however, he remains cautious and warns that they must remain humble. “Certain track characteristics have helped us in some races, but over 24 races you need a well-balanced car,” says the Briton.

Tight competition in the midfield

Looking at the competition, Oakes expects an even closer top field and an increasingly competitive midfield in 2025: “Everyone is getting closer.”

He points out that performance can vary greatly from track to track and that consistency will be the key to success. He says that it is particularly challenging to find the right balance between development for 2025 and long-term planning for 2026 and to allocate resources wisely.

“You have to find a balance. But I think we have a real reason to be optimistic, as we have definitely performed well in the car in the last few races,” says Oakes. ‘But in Formula One, you can never be satisfied.’

Technical progress provides confidence

Alpine driver Pierre Gasly also highlights the positive momentum of the season and praises the increasing correlation between the findings from the factory and the performance on the track. “Every time we found something, it translated into performance,” notes the Frenchman.

This close correlation between simulation and real-world performance gives the team a massive boost of confidence for the winter – as do their recent successes.

“Fifth in Qatar, third in qualifying in Las Vegas, seventh in Abu Dhabi – we were almost always the best of the midfielders,” Gasly says. ‘They made me want to drive the car again. And I’m definitely looking forward to next season more.’

Key people influence

Another reason for Alpine’s optimism is the strengthening of the team by David Sanchez, who previously worked at Ferrari and McLaren. The Alpine driver has already noticed the positive impact of Sanchez’s technical expertise and the cooperation within the team.

“David has provided great input. His experience is an enormously valuable asset for us,” he explains. Oakes also sees the expanded management team of Briatore, Sanchez and himself as a solid foundation for the coming season.

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