Alpine shows the A524 for the 2024 season

Quitting time!

The launch ends after almost exactly 40 minutes. This means that Alpine has kept things much shorter this year than a year ago, when they had the longest presentation of all ten Formula 1 teams.

Of course, there’s still a bit more to come here in our ticker, so stay tuned!

Ocon: New car “very aggressive”

The drivers are now on stage at the launch, and Esteban Ocon explains that he too saw the car for the first time today. Of course, he had already driven it in the simulator, but he also saw the real car for the first time today.

He emphasizes that the car looks “very aggressive”, and his teammate Pierre Gasly explains with a laugh that the new car is a great birthday present, as he turns 28 today.

But we don’t really find out much from the two drivers (and reserve driver Jack Doohan), they primarily talk about what they’ve been up to in the winter. The usual PR small talk at a launch.

New concept

Alpine technical director Matt Harman emphasizes that the predecessor of the A524 was basically finished. Therefore, a new concept was decided on. He reveals: “We have completely redesigned the chassis, we have a new rear suspension, we have optimized the front suspension and integrated a new heat dissipation system to be able to work more efficiently at every event.”

“In addition, we have worked a lot on our braking system, especially on the thermal management of the brakes, because power can be gained from the transfer of heat through the system,” says Harman. They also took “an aggressive approach” to the underbody and also changed the front wing and nose.

You can find out in detail what’s new here!

More pictures …

…you can find it in our photo gallery:

Two coats of paint again

We already know this from previous years: There will be two different paint finishes again in 2024. This time the difference isn’t quite as big because the car is largely black…

The first picture

We present the Alpine A524:

© Alpine

Famin: A524 a “completely new car”

Now we come to Formula 1, and team boss Bruno Famin immediately reveals that they have chosen a risky approach for 2024 and have built a “completely new car” from front to back. We’re excited, it’s about to be revealed!

WEC is getting started

Before the new Formula 1 car is unveiled, it is first the turn of the new hypercar, which this year will be driven by, among others, Mick Schumacher, who will of course also be there.

First swipe

The launch is underway, and presenter Rachel Brookes, who is otherwise known from the Sky Formula 1 broadcasts, throws out a little dig by announcing that we will see the real car today.

So far, most teams have only presented a new paint job, but not the actual car. However, we have to be patient a little longer, because we’re starting with a few interviews.

It’s about to start!

Ten more minutes until the Alpine launch begins in Enstone. Let’s see how quickly we get down to business and actually reveal the new car. Until then, here in the ticker we will provide you with all the information and the most important voices from the launch.

And of course the first pictures will be here as quickly as possible!

The first 2024 car on the track…

… by the way, it will be the Sauber C44. A shakedown in Barcelona is planned for Friday. Things will continue on Sunday, when the Haas VF-24 will take to the track for the first time in Silverstone.

There is usually not a lot of information about these film days (or shakedowns), but of course we still try to provide you with pictures and information!

Where is Alpine headed?

The year 2024 could well be a landmark year for Alpine, because although they achieved two podium places in 2023, with sixth place in the World Championship, it was the worst season in this regard since 2017, when the team was still called Renault!

Since 2018, the World Cup has always finished in the top 5. The last time the team finished worse than sixth was in 2016. In the first year after taking over the racing team again, they only finished ninth.

Former team boss Otmar Szafnauer explained here why he doesn’t think things are really making progress at Alpine!

In the last trains

Alpine is presenting the new car today, but the other teams are already in the starting blocks. Here are the other launch dates that are still coming up:

February 9: Racing Bulls (Las Vegas)
February 12: Aston Martin (Silverstone)
February 13th: Ferrari (Maranello)
February 14th: Mercedes (Silverstone)
February 14: McLaren
February 15: Red Bull

An important note: The launch of Racing Bulls (or Visa Cash App, whatever..) is officially scheduled for February 8th, i.e. tomorrow. But: The launch takes place in Las Vegas.

Due to the time difference in this country, it will only take place in the early hours of the morning on Friday. Just a note so that you don’t wait all day tomorrow in vain 😉

#AskMST

Alex has a question about the test drives, which start exactly two weeks from today in Bahrain. The question is: “Mick [Schumacher] is a test driver for Mercedes. Is there any hope that he will get a window of time in pre-season testing to show his performance?”

“Is it common for test drivers to have a go here? If Mick is really on Toto’s list, this would be an ideal opportunity to try him out…”

We currently don’t know who will be in the car during the test drives. But because there are only three days in total (and therefore an average of only one and a half days per regular driver), his chances are probably rather poor.

As a rule, the teams rely entirely on the regular drivers in the winter tests, so Schumacher would only have a real chance if one of the two drivers were injured – like Lance Stroll, for example, last year.

There is a greater chance that he will be able to take part in a tire test for Pirelli during the season, for example. As soon as something comes up, you will of course find out from us.

Albon wants to attack Alpine

Speaking of Alpine: Williams hopes to be able to close the gap with the French in 2024. At least that explains Alexander Albon, because Williams only finished one position behind Alpine in the World Cup last season.

But: With 120:28 points, the gap was quite big in the end. Albon also knows this, but still explains with regard to an attack on Alpine: “I think that’s a realistic performance expectation for us as a team.”

“I think realistically we won’t achieve podium places or victories this year. If we can regularly finish in the points, that would be great,” explains Albon.

And that would mean that the gap to Alpine can be closed.

To get in the mood…

… you could take a look at all the Formula 1 cars from Renault and Alpine in this photo series. This year’s launch will begin in around two hours!