HIRAKAWA LEAVES MCLAREN TO JOIN ALPINE FROM 2025 F1 SEASON

 

Ahead of the upcoming season, Alpine has announced that Ryō Hirakawa will join the Anglo-French team as test and reserve driver for 2025, expanding the pool of drivers from which the Enstone-based team may call upon throughout the season for testing and driving duties.

Hirakawa previously fulfilled test driver duties at McLaren, and he will now take on the role of test and reserve driver at Alpine. As part of his duties, the Japanese driver will participate in the Alpine's TPC programme and support with car development and technical understanding using the team’s simulator throughout the 2025 season.

In addition, Hirakawa will also drive in the opening practice at the Japanese Grand Prix that will take place at the Suzuka Circuit at the beginning of April.

Hirakawa has collected a wealth of experience over the past years, having competed across various disciplines including Super Formula, Endurance, and Super GT as well as having tested in Formula One machinery in 2023 and 2024.

His most most remarkable result is his overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022, and he is also a two-time Hypercar Champion in the FIA World Endurance Championship (2022 and 2023).

Commenting on the announcement, Hirakawa noted: “It is an honour to be joining BWT Alpine Formula One Team as a Test and Reserve Driver for the 2025 season.

"As always, the opportunity of track time in Formula One machinery is the pinnacle for race drivers and I am excited to drive in Free Practice 1 in front of my home crowd at the Japanese Grand Prix, as well as working with the team testing previous cars.

"It is a great opportunity to be working with such a dedicated team that utilises the breadth of experience of its driver pool and I look forward to playing a part in making 2025 a positive year together.”

Reflecting on the announcement, Alpine's team boss Oliver Oakes added: “It is great to bring Ryō on board with the team for 2025 and have him step in to take over driving duties for FP1 in Japan in front of his home crowd.

"His addition brings a diverse range of racing experience to our current roster and expands the pool of talent available to call upon throughout the season.

"His role will be important in providing the team with support in various areas of development through our TPC programme and simulator work, and we are looking forward to welcoming him to the team as we press ahead with preparations for the new season.”

- Balazs Szabo

RENAULT TO STOP MAKING F1 ENGINES AFTER 2025 SEASON

 

Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524

Photo by: Alpine

Renault will end Formula 1 engine production at their Viry-Chatillon factory after the 2025 season, with the French carmaker's Alpine team set to race with power units made by another manufacturer.

Alpine announced in a statement on Monday that the facility outside Paris, which employs more than 300 staff, would become a 'Hypertech' centre of engineering. It will include the establishment of an 'F1 monitoring unit.'

"Formula One activities at Viry, excluding the development of a new engine, will continue until the end of the 2025 season," the statement said.

"Each employee affected by this transformation project will be proposed a new position within Alpine Hypertech."

Alpine said the F1 monitoring unit would "aim to maintain employees' knowledge and skills in this sport and remain at the forefront of innovation for Hypertech Alpine's various projects."

Alpine, ninth in the championship after repeated changes of leadership, are the only team using Renault power units. Their F1 chassis factory is in Enstone, England.

Employees at Viry accused Renault management in August of wanting to buy in Mercedes engines from 2026 to reduce direct costs from $120 million to $17m.

"We fail to understand what justifies dismantling the elite entity that is the Viry-Chatillon factory and betraying its legacy and DNA by implanting a Mercedes heart into our Alpine F1," the works council said then in a statement.

"The announcement of the end of the development and production of French power units for Formula One is a nonsense."

There was no immediate reaction to Monday's announcement and there was no mention of any deal with Mercedes in the Alpine statement.

There has also been speculation that Renault could sell the team, although executive advisor and former boss Flavio Briatore said in August that would not happen.

"Creating this Hypertech Alpine centre is key to Alpine's development strategy and, more broadly, to the Group's innovation strategy," Alpine CEO Philippe Krief said in the statement.

"It is a turning point in the history of the Viry-Chatillon site, which will ensure the continuity of a savoir-faire and the inclusion of its rare skills in the Group's ambitious future while strengthening Alpine's position as an 'innovation garage.'

"Its racing DNA remains a cornerstone of the brand."

F1 constructors championship leaders McLaren use Mercedes engines, as do Williams, Aston Martin and Mercedes' factory team.

Aston are due to switch to Honda in 2026 when the sport introduces a new power unit, opening up a potential customer vacancy with Mercedes.

- Reuters