Last Updated on January 16 2025, 12:44 pm
Flavio Briatore sparks controversy with possible leak of Alpine’s 2025 livery – Formula 1 teams are gearing up to unveil their much-anticipated 2025 car liveries at the F1 75 event this February. However, Alpine’s plans may have hit a snag after Flavio Briatore, the team’s senior advisor, appeared to leak their new design on social media.
Fans were quick to spot blurry photos of what appeared to be the 2025 Alpine livery in an Instagram story posted by Briatore, sparking speculation and excitement across the F1 community.
Alpine’s road to recovery in 2024 – A season of two halves
Alpine’s 2024 season was a tale of perseverance and adaptation. What began as a disastrous campaign saw the team languish at the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship after the first five races, failing to score any points.
This poor performance was due to a car plagued by fundamental problems, including excess weight and sub-optimal aerodynamics.
The A524, as Alpine’s Technical Director David Sanchez explains, was riddled with flaws from the outset. “The car didn’t perform because it was very heavy at the beginning of the year and aerodynamically it was at an angle,” revealed Sanchez.
Turning the tide
Sanchez, who joined the team in May 2024, acknowledged that progress had been made prior to his arrival.
“They had done a very good job with weight reduction. That’s for sure,” he said. “The car was close to the limit again and we were completely in the direction of aerodynamic development.”
These efforts began to bear fruit after the summer break. Alpine scored 54 points in the second half of the season, the most of any team outside the top four. Despite this resurgence, Alpine finished the year in sixth place, a position that left the team’s management hungry for more.
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Ambitions beyond the midfield
Alpine’s management have made it clear that they are not content with being a mid-table team.
“We have the resources to be competitive,” stressed Sanchez. “Let’s just say that we have recovered from the bad start to the year. Now we just have to keep going and keep improving.”
This ambition is in line with the vision of Flavio Briatore, who has returned to the team as an executive advisor for 2024. Working alongside Team Principal Oliver Oakes, Briatore has been instrumental in reshaping Alpine’s strategy and operations.
The Instagram slip-up – Leaked livery on Social Media?
In a post shared from a ‘marketing meeting’ on Instagram, Briatore showed a table with two photos showing a strikingly different design to Alpine’s 2024 car, the A524.
The blurry images hinted at a refreshed livery, with bold pink accents on the nose and rear, complemented by the team’s signature blue adorning the cockpit and side pods.
While the images lacked clarity, the timing of the slip-up could not have been worse. Fans, eager for a glimpse of the upcoming season, speculated that the photos revealed a bold new direction for the French team’s design. The leak has added a layer of intrigue to Alpine’s off-season as they prepare to recover from a tumultuous 2024 season.
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Briatore’s controversial off-season
A return to the spotlight
Known for his charismatic and often polarising personality, Briatore has remained in the spotlight during the off-season. His Instagram mishap has only added to the intrigue surrounding his involvement with Alpine, but it is not the only headline he has made recently.
The 74-year-old advisor recently fuelled speculation about Alpine’s 2025 rider line-up. Speaking to *Le Parisien*, Briatore hinted at the possibility of mid-season changes, putting rookie Jack Doohan under immense pressure.
“The only thing that is certain is death,” he remarked cryptically. “We will start the year with Pierre [Gasly] and Jack, I guarantee it. After that we’ll see during the season.”
Doohan’s pressure cooker
Jack Doohan, who made his debut at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2024, has reportedly been given just six races to prove himself in 2025. The Australian’s performance in Abu Dhabi was underwhelming, and with the team’s ambitions high, his position is far from secure.
Adding to Doohan’s woes, Alpine recently announced the signing of Franco Colapinto on a five-year deal. The Argentinian joins a list of reserve riders that includes Paul Aron and Ryo Hirakawa, giving Alpine plenty of alternatives should they decide to reshuffle their line-up mid-season.
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The impact of the leak
Marketing and competitive concerns
The potential leak of Alpine’s 2025 livery raises questions about the team’s internal operations and security. While blurry images may not reveal critical technical details, the premature exposure of a car’s design can affect marketing campaigns and diminish the impact of its official unveiling.
From a competitive perspective, rival teams could analyse even these blurred images for possible insights into Alpine’s aerodynamic approach or design philosophy. While the visible details may seem limited to aesthetic changes, every aspect of an F1 car is scrutinised in the relentless pursuit of performance.
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Fan reaction
The F1 fanbase has reacted to the leak with a mixture of excitement and humour. Social media platforms have been abuzz with discussion about the pink accents seen in the blurry images, with some speculating that Alpine may be adopting a bolder look to stand out on the grid.
For Alpine, this unexpected attention could be both a blessing and a curse. While it generates buzz ahead of the F1 75 event, it also puts additional pressure on the team to deliver a car that lives up to the heightened expectations.
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Looking ahead
As the 2025 season approaches, Alpine faces a pivotal year. With a revamped car design, a rookie driver under scrutiny and an ambitious leadership team, the French outfit has a lot to prove. Briatore’s Instagram gaffe may have stolen some of the spotlight, but the real test will come on the track.
Will Alpine’s bold livery mark the beginning of a new era for the team, or will their off-track drama overshadow their on-track performance? Fans and rivals alike will be watching closely as the countdown to F1 75 begins.
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