Of all the development curves taken across 2024's Formula 1 season, Alpine's was arguably the steepest - and it needed to, given that its A524 was overweight, light on downforce and planted at the back of the field when the campaign started. That it finished the year sixth in the championship was helped by a colossal dose of good fortune in Brazil's sopping wet grand prix, but the Enstone team's development over 2024 helped it stay ahead of Haas and RB in the pecking order.
On the face of it, the A525 appears to be an evolutionary step of where the A524 left off, particularly in the late-season package that Pierre Gasly pressed into service so well to score a hatful of points in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Those hallmarks are all here, with a modicum of refinement to rid some of the familiarity with the late-season package from 2024.
