Alpine boss Oliver Oakes has targeted heading Formula 1’s midfield battle and “clipping at the heels” of the established top teams during the 2025 season.
That was the Anglo-French marque’s target at the start of 2024, but those hopes were quickly dashed during pre-season testing and the season opener as Alpine was comfortably at the back of the field this time last year.
Oakes, who became Team Principal in August, oversaw a late surge by Alpine, bolstered by upgrades and a surprise double podium in Brazil that saw the team finish sixth in the Constructors’ standings.
Through the final races of 2024, Pierre Gasly was a consistent top-10 threat in qualifying and race conditions and Oakes wants to pick up from where the team left off.
In response to McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella theorising more teams outside of his outfit, Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull could challenge, Oakes was asked if Alpine could be one of those in the mix.
“I’m trying to think what I say, because otherwise you sound like you’re not positive,” Oakes told select media including Motorsport Week.
“But I think, if I’m honest, I think always you can see those front teams that are a step ahead.
“I think our target is to continue where we ended up at the end of last year, which is we kind of want to be clipping at the heels of those teams.
“That’s not to say we’re defeatist, but we’re also quite humbled that it’s bloody close as well.”
Winning F1 midfield battle a measure of success for Alpine
The F1 midfield battle is poised to be tighter than ever in 2025.
Alpine won out against Haas and Racing Bulls for sixth in the Constructors’ standings last year, with Aston Martin’s stronger start keeping it out of reach in fifth.
Aston Martin’s slump and Williams’ strong showing in testing show that four or five teams could be scrapping over fifth in the championship this time around.
Measuring success at this stage is hard, but when asked, Oakes said he wants Alpine to kick on from its strong finish last year and continue to be at the midfield’s forefront.
“I think continuing the second part of last year and I say that a little bit hesitantly, because I think it’s so competitive in that midfield,” Oakes said of his season target.
“And I think the whole grid bunching up, I think the swing of circuits as well.
“Obviously, I didn’t do the first part of last year, so going back to some of those tracks where I haven’t been and haven’t seen how the team performed firsthand.
“But I think we feel confident where we ended last year, we want to start this year on that same footing.
“And I think hopefully after these test days, we’re looking in good shape.”
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