Will Alpine’s recent progress withstand the defection of its star driver? · RaceFans

France gifted more than most nations to the world of motorsport, not least inventing the term ‘grand prix’. But it has had a complicated give-and-take relationship with F1 in the 21st century.

Renault claimed the world championship titles under the Tricolour in 2005 and 2006, but soon afterwards the French Grand Prix disappeared off the schedule for a full decade. And when the sport finally returned to France in 2018, it was at the renovated test track Paul Ricard, which struggled to inspire fans and hasn’t found a place on the 2023 F1 calendar.

Renault departed the sport as a factory team but remained as a power unit manufacturer before returning in 2016 to the Enstone factory which had been their previous home. They immediately set a plan to build themselves back into a championship-contending outfit once again. But in 2023, entering a third season under their sportscar brand Alpine, they have only managed to progress to the top of the midfield, rather than break through and join the front-running teams again.

After three consecutive seasons sitting fifth in the championship, Alpine narrowly secured the ‘best of the rest’ spot last year, for the first time since 2018. But its 2022 campaign was not as enjoyable as its final finishing position suggested.

First, they owed a large debt of gratitude to Daniel Ricciardo. The McLaren driver’s points tally was so poor that even though team mate Lando Norris finished ahead of both Alpine drivers, the blue team came out ahead in the constructors’ standings.

More memorably, their year was defined by a humiliating double-blow in the driver market. First, talisman Fernando Alonso announced he was bailing out at the end of the season to take his talents to Aston Martin. Then, Alpine’s attempt to call up junior Oscar Piastri to replace Alonso blew up in the team’s face when it was revealed he had already signed a contract with McLaren for 2023. After a long legal process, McLaren were ultimately confirmed to have legitimate rights to Piastri for this year, compounding Alpine’s embarrassment further.

But although they lost a potential talent in Piastri, they ultimately ended up gaining a proven one in the form of Pierre Gasly, who has finally broken free from the Red Bull system to join Alpine in the seat vacated by Alonso. And so, the only French team in Formula 1 now has two French drivers at their disposal – the first time since Renault fielded Alain Prost and Rene…