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Alpine A523
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Alpine A523
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Alpine A523
Pierre Gasly driving an A523 during the Austrian Grand Prix.
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorAlpine (chassis)
Renault (power unit)
DesignersPat Fry (Chief Technical Officer)
Matt Harman (Technical Director)
Simon Virrill (Chief Designer)
Benjamin Norton (Chief Engineer)
Pierre Genon (Head of Performance Systems)
Dirk de Beer (Head of Aerodynamics)
James Rodgers (Chief Aerodynamicist)
Bruno Famin (Engine Technical Director)
PredecessorAlpine A522
SuccessorAlpine A524
Technical specifications
Suspension (front)Double wishbone push-rod
Suspension (rear)Double wishbone push-rod
EngineMecachrome-built and assembled Renault E-Tech RE23
1.6 L (98 cu in) direct injection V6 turbocharged engine limited to 15,000 RPM in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout 1.6 L (98 cu in) Turbo Rear-mid mounted
Electric motorKinetic and thermal energy recovery systems
FuelBP[1]
LubricantsCastrol[1]
Tyres
Competition history
Notable entrantsBWT Alpine F1 Team
Notable drivers
Debut2023 Bahrain Grand Prix
Last event2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
220200

The Alpine A523 is a Formula One racing car designed and constructed by the BWT Alpine F1 Team for the 2023 Formula One World Championship. The car was driven by Pierre Gasly, in his first season for the Enstone-based team, and Esteban Ocon.

Design and development

[edit]

The A523 was first revealed on 16 February 2023[2][3] alongside a special pink livery for the first three races of the season.[4] In advance of the launch, Alpine ran the car through 17 laps shared between Gasly and Ocon at the Silverstone Circuit.[5][6] The car shared several design cues with the AlphaTauri AT03, where push-rod rear suspension was used in lieu of the A522's equivalent pull-rod suspension design, as well as rectangular sidepod inlets, flat-shaped nose, and a raised front wing central section.

Season summary

[edit]

Opening rounds

[edit]

Ocon qualified 9th for the season opener in Bahrain whilst Gasly qualified 20th and last for his debut with Alpine after having his lap time deleted for track limits. During the race itself, he recovered to finish 9th after a strategy, holding the fastest lap before Zhou Guanyu pitted and went quicker than him. Meanwhile, Ocon had a bad first race of the season, receiving three different time penalties throughout the race, eventually being retired by his team to save his engine. Alpine left Bahrain 6th in the constructors' championship with 2 points. Ocon qualified 7th for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with Gasly qualifying 10th. At the start of the race, Gasly made contact with Oscar Piastri, but did not receive damage. Gasly and Ocon were both passed by Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc who were recovering from bad qualifying, but both dropped two places when the safety car came out due to Lance Stroll's retirement. The two could not keep up with the top 4 drivers, so Ocon and Gasly finished 8th and 9th respectively with Ocon scoring his first points of the season. Alpine left Jeddah 5th in the constructors' championship with 8 points.

Ocon qualified 11th for the Australian Grand Prix, with Gasly qualifying 9th. At the start, Gasly jumped into 7th before the safety car came out. Ocon, however, slipped back to 15th place after a poor start. When Alex Albon crashed on lap 7, Gasly and Ocon both stayed out and were able to change tyres under the red flag. Gasly and Ocon took the restart 4th and 13th respectively, but Ocon was hit by Nyck de Vries at turn 3, dropping him down the order. Gasly ran in the top 10 for a long time while Ocon made his way back up the order, sitting 10th on lap 54 when another red flag came out due to Kevin Magnussen's crash. At the restart, Ocon moved up to 7th whilst Gasly ran wide at turn 1. However, the race soon turned into disaster as Gasly, in an attempt to rejoin the track, moved right across the track at turn 2, but failed to notice Ocon on his right with Gasly's rear left and Ocon's front left tyres interlocking, causing Gasly to spin into the wall, dragging Ocon along with him in a heavy crash for both drivers. After both left their cars, Ocon said he had a headache from the accident whilst Gasly was apologetic for the incident. The stewards declared the collision a racing incident, meaning neither driver was penalised; however, due to McLaren's double points finish, Alpine slipped to 6th in the constructors' championship still on 8 points.

For the first sprint weekend in Baku, Ocon qualified 12th while Gasly crashed in Q1, meaning he would start 19th. Ocon qualified 13th for the sprint with Gasly qualifying 19th again. Ocon finished the sprint 18th after starting from the pit lane due to suspension set up changes while Gasly finished 13th. Gasly finished the main race 14th whilst Ocon again started from the pit lane for the main race forcing the team to try a strategy of waiting for a late safety car, but no such safety car occurred. The team waited until the final lap to pit Ocon, but as Ocon entered the pit lane, he was forced to avoid some photographers who were crossing the road. After his stop, Ocon finished 15th behind Gasly. The FIA investigated the pit incident and changed the parc fermé procedure to avoid another incident like that happening again. Alpine left Baku 6th in the constructors' championship with 8 points 6 behind 5th placed McLaren.

Gasly qualified 5th for the 2023 Miami Grand Prix with Ocon qualifying 9th, and Gasly finished the race 8th with Ocon finishing 9th. Ocon qualified 4th at Monaco, but was promoted to third due to Leclerc's grid penalty, with Gasly qualifying 7th. On lap 14 Carlos Sainz Jr. tried to overtake Ocon at the Nouvelle chicane, but collided with Ocon, breaking his front wing. Ocon held third during the first round of pitstops, but late rain threatened his bid for a podium as he dropped behind George Russell, but he regained third when Russell went off at Mirabeau. Gasly undercut Sainz and sat between the two Ferraris after the switch to intermediates in 7th, where he would finish. Ocon, however, held off Lewis Hamilton to finish in third place, taking his first podium since his win at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix and Alpine's first podium of the season. Ocon was awarded driver of the day for his performance. After the race Alpine moved back into 5th in the constructors' championship on 35 points, 18 points ahead of McLaren but 55 points behind 4th placed Ferrari. Gasly qualified 4th for the Spanish Grand Prix with Ocon qualifying 7th, and Ocon finished 8th with Gasly finishing 10th.

Ocon qualified 6th in Canada while Gasly qualified 17th after being impeded on his last lap in Q1 by Sainz. Ocon finished the race 8th, despite being held up by Albon for the last third of the race, with Gasly finishing 12th. Gasly qualified 9th for the Austrian Grand Prix with Ocon qualifying 12th, and Ocon qualified 9th for the sprint with Gasly qualifying 12th. Gasly finished the sprint in 15th whilst Ocon finished 7th finishing 0.0009 seconds ahead of Russell. Gasly finished the main race 10th while Ocon had a miserable race after receiving 5 separate penalties totalling 30 seconds for track limits offences and an unsafe release. This broke the record for the most penalties in a single race previously held by Pastor Maldonado.

Gasly qualified 10th for the British Grand Prix with Ocon qualifying 13th. The race went miserably for Alpine as Ocon retired on lap 12 due to a hydraulic leak whilst Gasly retired late in the race after Stroll collided with him at the Vale chicane. Even though Stroll was penalised for the collision, Alpine suffered a double retirement and due to McLaren's 2nd and 4th places the Woking team passed Alpine in the constructors' championship meaning they dropped back to 6th in the standings.

Alpine finished the first 10 races 6th in the constructors' championship with 47 points. Ocon was 11th in the drivers' championship with 31 points whilst Gasly was 12th in the standings with 16 points.

Hungary to Japan

[edit]

Gasly qualified thirteenth and Ocon twelfth at the Hungarian Grand Prix, but both would suffer a pointless finish and lap-one elimination due to Zhou running into a returning Daniel Ricciardo, pushing the Australian AlphaTauri driver into Ocon and right into Gasly's path.

After an uneventful Belgian sprint for Ocon, who qualified ninth and stayed there with Gasly, who had qualified sixth, scoring a podium in third place behind a once-more dominant Verstappen and a fledgling Piastri, Ocon finished eighth and Gasly eleventh in the main race. After a chaotic race, Gasly would score the team's other podium of the season in third after qualifying twelfth at Zandvoort, while Ocon finished tenth after qualifying seventeenth.

After the highs of Zandvoort, Monza proved to be a disaster for the French duo. Both Alpines failed to make it out of Q1 at the 2023 Italian Grand Prix. Gasly finished fifteenth, and Ocon retired due to an issue with his steering. At the Singapore Grand Prix, Ocon qualified in eighth and Gasly twelfth; while Gasly finished sixth, Ocon's gearbox failed on him on lap 42, causing him to retire and bringing out a virtual safety car. At the Japanese Grand Prix, Ocon qualified fourteenth and Gasly twelfth, and would finish the race in ninth and tenth respectively.

Closing rounds

[edit]

Gasly and Ocon qualified seventh and eighth at the Qatar Grand Prix, and eleventh and tenth for the sprint respectively. During the sprint itself, Ocon locked up and began a domino effect that led to a racing incident where Ocon, Sergio Pérez and Nico Hülkenberg crashed out of the race, with Pérez in particular being mathematically eliminated from championship contention. Meanwhile, Gasly finished in ninth, marking a pointless sprint finish for the duo. During the race, Gasly finished twelfth and Ocon seventh. Gasly, who initially finished tenth, was bemoaned with two track limits violations and a five-second penalty.

Complete Formula One results

[edit]
Key
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Other points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
Purple Not classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (empty cell)
Annotation Meaning
P Pole position
F Fastest lap
Superscript
number 		Points-scoring position
in sprint
Year Entrant Power unit Tyres Driver name Grands Prix Points WCC pos.
BHR SAU AUS AZE MIA MON ESP CAN AUT GBR HUN BEL NED ITA SIN JPN QAT USA MXC SAP LVG ABU
2023 BWT Alpine F1 Team Renault E-Tech RE23 P France Pierre Gasly 9 9 13† 14 8 7 10 12 10 18† Ret 113 3 15 6 10 12 67 11 7 11 13 120 6th
France Esteban Ocon Ret 8 14† 15 9 3 8 8 147 Ret Ret 8 10 Ret Ret 9 7 Ret 10 10 4 12
Reference:[7][8]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Alpine A523

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Alpine A523 is a Formula One racing car constructed and raced by the BWT Alpine F1 Team during the 2023 FIA World Championship season. Powered by a mid-mounted E-Tech RE23 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged hybrid power unit producing approximately 901 bhp combined output, the A523 featured a carbon-fibre composite chassis, pushrod suspension on all four wheels, and P Zero tyres. It weighed 798 kg and was designed under the 2022 ground-effect aerodynamic regulations, with key innovations including a redesigned front wing with a wider, flatter nose for improved adjustability, a narrower sidepod layout with deeper cooling trenches to optimize airflow, and an evolved underfloor for enhanced generation. Unveiled on 16 February 2023 at London's Printworks venue, the A523 represented a significant from its predecessor, the A522, with extensive winter development focused on aerodynamic , reliability, and power unit cooling to target a podium-contending position in the Constructors' Championship. The car's blended signature Alpine blue with sponsor BWT's pink accents in a crystallized pattern, switching to a full pink scheme for the opening three Grands Prix in , , and . Driven by an all-French lineup of and , the A523 debuted at the , where Ocon finished sixth and Gasly ninth, securing early points. Throughout the 22-race season, the A523 showed competitive pace in midfield battles, highlighted by Ocon's third-place finish at the and Gasly's strong qualifying performances, including fifth in . However, reliability issues and development challenges limited its potential, resulting in Ocon accumulating 58 points for 12th in the Drivers' Championship and Gasly 62 points for 11th, while the team concluded sixth in the Constructors' standings with 120 points overall. The A523's campaign underscored Alpine's ambitions under the new regulations but also exposed areas for improvement ahead of the 2024 successor, the A524.

Design and Development

Chassis and Aerodynamic Features

The Alpine A523 featured a carbon fibre and composite , constructed to meet the FIA's 2023 technical specifications for structural integrity and crash safety. This incorporated a of 3600 mm, with an overall width of 2000 mm, adhering to the standardized dimensions mandated for all Formula 1 cars under the 2022-2025 ground-effect regulations. The suspension system utilized a double wishbone setup with push-rod actuation at both the front and rear axles, marking a significant evolution from the A522's pull-rod rear configuration; this change allowed for a lighter, more compact layout that improved packaging efficiency and reduced overall weight by several kilograms. Aerodynamically, the A523 introduced a rebodied layout with targeted refinements to enhance ground-effect performance, including a redesigned underfloor and diffuser to optimize management and increase generation. The front wing adopted a raised configuration with a wider, flatter design, where the bottom flap connected directly to the nose tip rather than suspending from it, promoting cleaner over the mainplane and greater setup flexibility for track-specific adjustments. Sidepod inlets were reconfigured into a narrower, rectangular shape with a deep central for downwashing , alongside reduced cooling requirements that enabled smoother bodywork contours and better integration with the floor edge for improved rear . These innovations collectively aimed to boost straight-line speed while enhancing cornering stability through a more consistent aerodynamic platform. The A523's design complied with key 2023 FIA regulatory updates, including stricter controls on front wing endplate curvature to limit flexibility and prevent excessive aerodynamic loading, as well as provisions for underfloor vortex generators to manage in the ground-effect region. Development of these features was led by Chief Simon Virrill and Matt Harman, who oversaw radical winter testing refinements focused on aero efficiency and mechanical integration. Under Chief Technical Officer , the overall approach targeted top-three contention by prioritizing reliability and weight savings in the and aero package.

Powertrain and Mechanical Components

The Alpine A523 was powered by the E-Tech RE23 power unit, a 1.6-liter V6 turbocharged hybrid with a 90-degree cylinder bank angle, limited to 15,000 RPM, and mounted in a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout as a fully stressed member. The incorporated a Motor Generator Unit - Kinetic (MGU-K) for recovery during braking, delivering up to 120 kW of power, and a Motor Generator Unit - Heat (MGU-H) for harvesting energy from exhaust gases, with the combined output exceeding 950 horsepower. This configuration adhered to 1's 2023 regulations, including MGU-K recovery of up to 2 MJ per lap and deployment of up to 4 MJ per lap, with unlimited recovery from the MGU-H, contributing to overall efficiency within the 110 kg race fuel limit. Mechanical enhancements focused on and integration to improve traction and handling. The A523 featured a revised rear suspension geometry, shifting from a pullrod to a pushrod design for a lighter and simpler setup that enhanced traction without compromising packaging. A new gearbox was introduced alongside refinements to the hydraulic system, optimizing response and reducing driver effort under high loads. The car also integrated a system, allowing precise modulation of braking forces in conjunction with the hybrid energy recovery. These upgrades built on the A522's foundation, emphasizing seamless power delivery to the rear wheels. Reliability was a core development priority, addressing the A522's overheating and power unit failure issues through targeted improvements. Enhanced cooling ducts and a more efficient battery management system mitigated thermal management challenges, while a reduced turbo inlet plenum temperature improved overall power unit stability. Collaboration between Alpine's Enstone chassis team and Renault's Viry-Châtillon engine facility ensured extensive dyno testing, restoring confidence in the RE23's durability and aiming to minimize mechanical retirements. A downsized centerline cooling architecture further aided mass flow to the rear, supporting consistent performance across race distances. Key innovations included an optimized exhaust layout that facilitated better ERS deployment by improving waste heat recovery, enhancing under the stringent 110 kg fuel cap. These refinements, combined with aerodynamic integration via narrower sidepods for cooling, contributed to marginal gains in without altering the frozen power unit specifications.

Launch and Livery

The unveiled its 2023 challenger, the A523, on 16 February 2023 at the Printworks venue in , marking the 10th and final car launch of the Formula 1 season. The event featured drivers and , team principals, and a star-studded audience, with the ceremony streamed live to highlight the car's design ahead of pre-season testing in . The A523 represented an evolution of the previous A522, incorporating radical developments while adhering to the ongoing ground-effect regulations. Prior to the official reveal, the team conducted a shakedown at Silverstone Circuit on 13 February 2023, where Ocon completed nine laps and Gasly eight, totaling 17 laps under filming day restrictions. This initial on-track run confirmed the car's basic functionality without any major issues, allowing the team to proceed confidently to the launch. The A523's standard livery combined the iconic French racing blue of Alpine with accents of pink from title sponsor BWT, creating a striking visual identity that emphasized the team's heritage and partnerships. For promotional purposes, a special all-pink BWT was introduced for the first three races of the season—, , and —before reverting to the blue-pink scheme for the remainder of the campaign. Sponsorship integrations were prominently displayed on the A523, with BWT branding featured on the nose cone and sidepods to maximize visibility. Additional partners included , as the power unit supplier with logos on the engine cover, and , whose lubricants branding appeared on key aerodynamic surfaces like the rear wing endplates.

2023 Season

Team Personnel and Drivers

The BWT entered the 2023 season with a driver lineup consisting of and . Ocon, a French driver, was retained for his fourth consecutive season with the Enstone-based squad, having joined as a works driver in 2019 during its era. Gasly, also French, marked his first full campaign with Alpine after transferring from AlphaTauri midway through 2022, bringing prior experience from and Toro Rosso. This all-French pairing was intended to foster national synergy and capitalize on their shared junior racing background, though their on-track rivalry occasionally tested team harmony. Key technical and leadership figures underpinned the team's operations throughout much of the year. served as Team Principal from the start of the season until his departure by mutual agreement after the in July 2023. He was succeeded by , previously the executive director of Alpine's engine program, who assumed the role to stabilize leadership amid ongoing challenges. acted as Chief Technical Officer, overseeing chassis and performance development until his exit in July 2023 to join Williams. Matt Harman held the position of , focusing on the A523's evolution and trackside delivery. Following the season, was appointed as Executive Advisor in early 2024 to guide strategic direction, drawing on his prior success with the team during its tenure from 2000 to 2009. The year saw significant internal dynamics, highlighted by a mid-season management shakeup in July 2023 that included the exits of Szafnauer, Fry, and sporting director . This restructuring was prompted by performance inconsistencies and aimed to enhance strategy execution and for the remainder of the campaign. Pre-season expectations positioned Alpine to build on their fourth-place finish in the 2022 Constructors' Championship, with goals centered on achieving consistent podium contention and securing another top-four result to solidify their midfield standing. The A523's evolutionary design was viewed as compliant with regulations while offering incremental gains to support these ambitions.

Early Season Performance (Races 1-10)

The Alpine A523 showed promising initial competitiveness in the 2023 Formula 1 season, particularly on circuits that favored its aerodynamic strengths, but it was hampered by reliability concerns and setup challenges on high-speed tracks. In the opening race in , finished 6th for 8 points, while secured 9th for 2 points. The team rebounded in , with Ocon finishing 8th (4 points) and Gasly 9th (2 points), demonstrating solid pace in the desert conditions. However, the Australian Grand Prix exposed early vulnerabilities, as both drivers crashed out in a racing incident involving multiple cars, resulting in zero points and highlighting the A523's sensitivity to close-quarters battles. Progress stalled at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where both finished outside the points amid setup issues—Gasly 14th and Ocon 15th—with no points scored. In Miami, the team achieved a double points finish with Gasly in 8th (4 points) and Ocon in 9th (2 points), boosted by Gasly's strong qualifying. The standout performance came at Monaco, a street circuit that suited the A523's balance, where Ocon delivered a podium in 3rd (15 points) and Gasly 7th (6 points), marking the team's best early result. Subsequent races were more mixed. In , Ocon finished 8th (4 points) and Gasly 9th (2 points), maintaining consistency but lacking top-end speed. Ocon scored 8th (4 points) in , but Gasly finished 12th with no points after a collision. At , Ocon's 5th (10 points) and Gasly's 8th (4 points) added valuable haul, yet the ended in double retirement due to mechanical failures, underscoring ongoing reliability woes. Overall, Alpine accumulated 67 points after these 10 races, placing them mid-pack in the constructors' standings and revealing the A523's strengths on technical layouts while exposing weaknesses elsewhere. Key challenges included retirements from mechanical and collision issues that cost potential points, alongside setup struggles on high-speed circuits like , where the car suffered from understeer and tire degradation. To address balance issues, the team introduced minor aerodynamic tweaks after , focusing on floor edge adjustments for improved stability, which contributed to better results in and . Driver experience played a role in maximizing the car's potential at , leveraging Ocon's prior knowledge of the tight layout.

Mid-Season Challenges (Hungary to Japan)

The mid-season phase of the 2023 campaign presented significant hurdles for the with the A523, marked by a combination of on-track incidents, reliability setbacks, and tactical missteps across the European and Asian races from to . Despite these issues, the team managed to secure 33 points during this stretch, largely propelled by Pierre Gasly's standout performance in the wet conditions of the sprint race, where he claimed third place. The at the started disastrously for Alpine, as both drivers and were eliminated on the opening lap following a collision at Turn 1. Ocon, starting from 12th, launched aggressively but clipped Gasly's rear wheel, sending his A523 airborne and causing extensive underbody damage that forced immediate retirement; Gasly, from 10th, sustained similar floor damage and also retired shortly after. This incident highlighted the A523's vulnerability to floor damage in high-impact contacts, exacerbating the team's frustration after a double DNF in the previous . No points were scored, leaving Alpine scoreless in . In response to the Hungary setback, Alpine introduced mid-season revisions to the A523's floor ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, aimed at improving tolerance to dirty air and enhancing overall aerodynamic stability. These changes were tested during the sprint-modified weekend, where Gasly capitalized on the rainy conditions to finish third in the sprint race, earning six points and marking his first podium of the season with the team. In the main grand prix, Ocon recovered from a challenging start to finish eighth for four points, while Gasly ended 11th with no additional score, contributing a total of 10 points for the event. The upgrades showed promise in mixed conditions but could not fully mask ongoing powertrain reliability concerns that persisted from earlier in the year. The at brought a brief highlight, with Gasly securing third place for 15 points in a rain-affected race, demonstrating the A523's competitive edge on the tight, banked circuit. Ocon, starting from 13th, fought through the field to tenth for one point, helping Alpine add 16 points overall. However, momentum faltered at the in , where Ocon retired on lap 18 due to a power unit failure after qualifying 18th, while Gasly struggled with straight-line speed deficits inherent to the A523's powertrain, finishing 15th from 17th on the grid with no points. The under the night lights at Marina Bay exposed further challenges, including strategy errors that hampered Ocon's race; starting from 15th, he crashed out on lap 18 after contact with , while Gasly, from 12th, methodically advanced to sixth for eight points amid tire management difficulties on the demanding . Alpine's pit decisions, particularly around undercut timing, were criticized internally for not optimizing positions in the humid conditions. The period concluded at the in Suzuka, where Ocon finished ninth for two points and Gasly tenth for one, adding three points in a race dominated by dry weather that suited the A523's setup less effectively than wet or mixed scenarios.

Late Season Outcomes (Closing Rounds)

Entering the closing rounds of the 2023 Formula One season, the Alpine A523 demonstrated sporadic competitiveness amid ongoing development challenges, as the team sought to consolidate its position in the midfield battle for sixth in the Constructors' Championship. In the , battled through illness to secure seventh place, earning six points for the team, while finished 12th after qualifying strongly but losing ground due to track limits penalties during the session. This result provided a modest boost following a sprint race where Ocon retired early and Gasly placed ninth without points. The at marked a highlight, with Gasly advancing to sixth in the revised race classification after Lewis Hamilton's disqualification, netting eight points. Ocon, however, struggled after retiring from the sprint in 15th and finishing 15th in the main race due to mechanical issues. This performance underscored the A523's potential on high-speed tracks but highlighted reliability concerns. In , Ocon claimed the final point with a 10th-place finish, capitalizing on a one-stop amid tire degradation challenges, while Gasly ended 11th after a double compromised his race. The team scored just one point overall, reflecting the A523's limitations on altitude-affected circuits where engine performance was scrutinized. The Brazilian Grand Prix at offered a double-points haul through the sprint and main race formats. Gasly finished eighth in the sprint for four points and ninth in the race for two more, while Ocon added one point with 10th in the main event after starting from the back due to qualifying issues. Heavy rain and periods played to the team's strategic strengths, yielding seven points total and helping maintain momentum. Alpine's most notable late-season result came at the inaugural , where Ocon delivered an impressive recovery drive from 16th on to fourth place, scoring 12 points through overtakes and on the street circuit. Gasly, starting fifth, faded to 11th amid graining issues, contributing no points. This outcome highlighted the A523's adaptability to low-grip surfaces and boosted team morale. The season concluded in , with Gasly securing the solitary point in 10th after a late charge, while Ocon finished 12th following a first-lap incident. The A523 showed improved race pace on the Yas Marina layout but could not challenge the top midfield rivals. Overall, these closing rounds netted 35 points for Alpine, securing sixth place in the Constructors' with 120 points total— a regression from 2022's fourth but a foundation for future upgrades.
RaceOcon Position/PointsGasly Position/PointsTeam Points
7th / 612th / 06
15th / 06th / 88
10th / 111th / 01
(incl. sprint)10th / 19th / 67
4th / 1211th / 012
12th / 010th / 11

Results and Legacy

Championship Standings

In the 2023 Formula 1 World Constructors' Championship, the Alpine A523-powered team finished sixth with 120 points, a decline from their fourth-place result of 173 points in 2022. This position placed them behind McLaren's 302 points in fourth but ahead of AlphaTauri's 25 points in eighth, with reliability issues contributing to the drop, including a total of 7 retirements (DNFs) across the main races, primarily due to collisions and mechanical issues. For the Drivers' Championship, ended 11th with 62 points, including one podium, while finished 12th with 58 points and one podium; Gasly's edge came from greater consistency in results after the . The team's overall performance showed strength over Williams, who scored 28 points, but they were outpaced by the midfield leaders Ferrari and Mercedes, who amassed 406 and 409 points respectively. The season's highlights included two podiums—one at (Ocon) and one at the (Gasly)—though no race victories were achieved. The season's results contributed to mid-season management restructuring, including the departure of team principal after the due to strategic differences. Post-season analysis of the A523 provided foundational learnings for the 2024 A524, particularly in addressing ground-effect balance and porpoising challenges under the current regulations.

Complete Race Results

The Alpine A523 competed in all 22 rounds of the 2023 FIA , with the team scoring 120 points to finish sixth in the Constructors' standings. The car recorded no wins, two podium finishes (Ocon in and Gasly in the ), no pole positions, and no fastest laps. Alpine used tyres, fuel, and lubricants throughout the season. The team suffered 7 retirements (DNFs) across the main races, many due to on-track incidents, such as the team-mates' collision in and Ocon's contacts in , , and the . The following table summarizes the main race finishing positions for drivers and , along with the total points scored by each in that Grand Prix weekend (including sprint points where applicable). Sprint weekends were held in , , , , and the .
Grand PrixEsteban Ocon Position (Points)Pierre Gasly Position (Points)
Ret (0)9th (2)
8th (4)9th (2)
14th (0)13th (0)
15th (0)14th (0)
9th (2)8th (5)
3rd (15)7th (6)
8th (4)10th (1)
8th (4)12th (0)
14th (0)10th (1)
Ret (0)18th (0)
Ret (0)Ret (0)
8th (4)11th (6)
10th (1)3rd (15)
Ret (0)15th (0)
Ret (0)6th (8)
9th (2)10th (1)
7th (8)12th (0)
Ret (0)6th (10)
10th (1)11th (0)
São Paulo10th (1)7th (6)
4th (12)11th (0)
12th (0)13th (0)
Sprint race results were as follows, with points awarded to the top eight finishers (8-1 scale).
Sprint Grand Prix Position (Points) Position (Points)
9th (0)8th (1)
12th (0)11th (0)
9th (0)3rd (6)
7th (2)9th (0)
11th (0)7th (2)

References

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  14. https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/the-area-of-new-alpine-its-technical-boss-is-clearly-proud-of/
  15. https://www.sbnation.com/2023/2/16/23601916/alpine-f1-formula-1-ocon-gasly-a523
  16. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/alpine-insist-engine-issue-that-plagued-them-last-season-is-resolved-for.4HMwh8jtBI8K9yjUYf7tgX
  17. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/first-look-alpine-complete-the-2023-f1-grid-with-a523-car-launch.7Lig18k6DanDWy56RlJHsS
  18. https://media.alpinecars.com/?p=226745
  19. https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/35673923/alpine-launches-new-a523-f1-car-london
  20. https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/alpine-2023-f1-car-launch-how-alpines-changed-its-f1-car-design-for-2023/
  21. https://media.alpinecars.com/?p=226580
  22. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/alpine-runs-a523-f1-car-at-silverstone-ahead-of-launch/10431647/
  23. https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/alpine-unveils-new-a523-at-final-2023-f1-car-launch/
  24. https://www.topgear.com/car-news/formula-one/new-alpine-a523-completes-f1-launch-season
  25. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/gallery-check-out-every-angle-of-the-a523-as-alpine-reveal-two-different.27b6Hni9wjhDWPkeuFPTvB
  26. https://rtrsports.com/en/blog/the-teams-of-formula-1-2023-launches-livree-drivers-and-sponsors-ferrari-mercedes-alpine/
  27. https://manuals.plus/video/5251bb4178dde4de37dd7a6b8d16570b97278a2401f2e0ced7b406eb6ad2524f
  28. https://media.alpinecars.com/?p=182491
  29. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/no-one-can-understand-ocon-and-gasly-reflect-on-their-ups-and-downs-together.13ikLt4fD7Soprz2XRFRKT
  30. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-alpine-confirm-team-principal-otmar-szafnauer-and-sporting-director.13bpB2bdAZnfQCpbv3BZGL
  31. https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/a61709994/alpine-f1-shake-up-continues-famin/
  32. https://www.grandprix247.com/2023/07/28/pat-fry-departs-alpine-to-join-willimas-in-november/
  33. https://www.formula1.com/en/video/alpine-technical-director-matt-harman-discusses-strong-development-plan-for-2023.1758010264725168231
  34. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/alpine-in-no-hurry-to-secure-new-team-principal-after-sweeping-management.157uC8NavVDgU9jQV90RZh
  35. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2023/03/05/formula-1-in-2023-alpine-imagines-itself-as-a-podium-contender_6018190_7.html
  36. https://f1i.com/news/483947-alpine-sticking-to-2023-goal-of-being-fourth-best-team.html
  37. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/races/1141/bahrain/race-result
  38. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/races/1142/saudi-arabia/race-result
  39. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/races/1210/monaco/race-result
  40. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/team/Alpine-Renault
  41. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/drivers/PIEGAS01/pierre-gasly
  42. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/watch-alpine-suffer-early-double-dnf-as-ocon-and-gasly-collide-amid-turn-1.1V382BxDSpqNDrvG5zslrN
  43. https://www.esteban-ocon.com/news/misfortune-for-alpine-and-esteban-in-hungary-with-double-retirement
  44. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/my-seat-broke-in-pieces-ocon-reveals-the-damage-caused-by-hungary-collision.5ULs7pyonSIdxXRi2cpZ6i
  45. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/alpine-plans-significant-f1-upgrade-before-summer-break/10495671/
  46. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/drivers/ESTOCO01/esteban-ocon
  47. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/races/1217/netherlands/race-result
  48. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/races/1218/italy/race-result
  49. https://www.racefans.net/2023/09/04/gasly-and-ocon-endure-super-painful-italian-gp/
  50. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/races/1219/singapore/race-result
  51. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/races/1220/japan/race-result
  52. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/ocon-explains-his-extremely-tough-run-to-p7-as-gasly-rues-costly-track-limit.6BbTLZCrnYxvG7uaLIxn9x
  53. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/2023-f1-united-states-gp-results-verstappen-wins/10536467/
  54. https://www.pitpass.com/76447/United-States-GP-Race-team-notes-Alpine
  55. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/results/2023/mexico-city-gp-625357/
  56. https://www.espn.com/f1/race/_/id/600026787
  57. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/races/1224/brazil/sprint-results
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  60. https://media.alpinecars.com/?p=274408
  61. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/races/1226/abu-dhabi/race-result
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  63. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/team
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  66. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/drivers
  67. https://www.planetf1.com/home-page/bruno-famin-doubles-down-otmar-szafnauer-alpine-exit
  68. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/tech-analysis-why-theres-more-to-alpines-new-a524-car-than-meets-the-eye.42VSKfSV5w64oez4uZDA7B
  69. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/drivers/ESTOCO01/esteban-ocon.html
  70. https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/drivers/PIEGAS01/pierre-gasly.html
  71. https://www.statsf1.com/en/alpine/grand-prix-2023.aspx
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