Alpine unveils junior academy: Five drivers on the hunt for Formula 1

With the name change from Renault to Alpine, the name of the junior programme of the French also changes. In recent years it appeared that the talent of Renault did not make it to Formula 1. Still, they hold on to their junior programme, with new talent.

Three talents from the French team will drive in Formula 2, while two talents will explore Formula 3. In Formula 2, there will be one rookie driving for Alpine, namely F3 champion Oscar Piastri. The Australian will also join reigning constructors' champion Prema, who won the championship with Mick Schumacher. 

Junior programme no guarantee for success 

Guanyu Zhou and Christian Lundgaard will also drive F2, as they did last year. In Formula 3, Caio Collet and Victor Martins will drive. Martins was dismissed from the programme under Renault but now returns to drive with Collet at Dutch MP Motorsport in FIA Formula 3.

The past years have shown that Renault's junior programme was not always a guarantee for success. Where Red Bull and Mercedes were able to promote their juniors to F1, Renault was lagging behind and had to make do with experienced drivers from other teams. Only Jack Aitken managed to make an F1 debut during the Sakhir Grand Prix for Williams.

Academy Director Mia Sharizman says that Zhou & Lundgaard are expected to build on their consistency and racecraft, and aim for the title. Zhou staying with UNI-Virtuosi and Lundgaard with ART.

— Thomas Maher (@thomasmaheronf1) February 10, 2021