Szafnauer wants to close the gap to the top teams: 'That's not easy'

Otmar Szafnauer is enthusiastic about the A523: the new car Alpine presented to the outside world on Thursday evening. The team boss hopes for a successful season in Formula 1, although he also depends on the competition.

Last season, Alpine experienced an excellent year with Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso. Indeed, the team finished fourth in the constructors' championship ahead of McLaren. Szafnauer does not think this is enough yet, however, and wants his team to do its best to attack Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing.

"The gap to third place was big," the team boss looked back on last season during the car launch. "We got to close that gap. To order to do so, we have to develop faster than any other Formula 1 team. Which isn't easy to do. If we want to catch the top three, it means our development rate is higher. And that's what we're looking to do. That's what this A523 will hopefully do for all of us"

Pierre Gasly should make an important contribution to this as Alonso's replacement. The Frenchman showed over the past few seasons at AlphaTauri that he can take the lead within a team and should raise the level further at Alpine.