Alpine team up with Zinedine Zidane and Nicola Adams

Alpine announced at the launch of the car in London that Zinedine Zidane is joining as an ambassador and Nicola Adams will be a mentor; all the cars have now been revealed, with pre-season tests live on Sky Sports F1 from next Thursday

Alpine has partnered with Ballon d’Or winner Zinedine Zidane and two-time Olympic champion Nicola Adams.

The French team announced at the car’s launch in London on Thursday that the former France international will join as brand ambassador and sponsor of its equal opportunities programme, including Rac(H)er and Concours Excellence Mecanique.

“I am very happy here and happy to be part of the Alpine team. I had the opportunity to meet Laurent (Rossi, CEO of Alpine) with the whole team for the Grand Prix,” said Zidane.

“We had a good exchange, and they have a project to give opportunities to young people, to have opportunities for all young talents. I am interested in this project.”

Zidane was pictured in the Alpine garage at last year’s Monaco Grand Prix, and the partnership was announced when the team unveiled its new A523 2023 car.

Zinedine Zidane pictured with Alpine during last year’s Monaco Grand Prix

‘I know what it’s like to be prejudiced’

Adams was also announced as a mentor by Alpine and will train Academy drivers and the F1 team based in Enstone, where he will give a conference to raise awareness of diversity “as a key driver of performance”.

The 34-year-old was the first woman to win an Olympic boxing title at London 2012 and she said she “can’t wait for my experience”.

“As the best athlete, my mentor has played an important role in my career. I can’t wait to share my experience, to train riders and teams, to share and advise and contribute to them. Alpine and help reduce gender inequality in sports,” said Adams .

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British Olympic gold medalist Nicola Adams joined Alpine as an academy mentor, to coach the team and work on inclusion

“I’m very happy to be part of the program. It’s in line with me personally. A lot needs to change in terms of diversity, gender and inclusion around women’s sports. I know what it’s like to experience prejudice, in boxing – a male dominated sport – I’ve had it all comments.

“I will coach the team and work on inclusion. I hope we can get to a point where we can work together and win.”

The addition of Zidane and Adams to the Alpine family is billed as part of the “cultural shift” in the car maker, which tries to “promote equal opportunities for men and women” in racing through the Rac (H) er program.

Laurent Rossi, CEO of Alpine said: “Rac(H)er is key in our continuous quest for performance, to build the future of our industry by driving real change and creating equal and fair opportunities in different human talents.”

Alpine pulled spectacularly close to the F1 launch season

As the last to launch a car for the upcoming F1 season, Alpine is setting high ambitions for 2023, as they will be approaching the top three.

The last of the 10 teams to cover the challengers before the pre-season test starts next Thursday – live on Sky Sports F1 – Alpine held a great launch to present the car, the ambition and the new driver in Pierre Gasly, who replaced the two-time champion Fernando Alonso.

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Alpine shows off the 2023 challenger, the A523 in two liveries

Gasly and teammate Esteban Ocon form an all-French driver line-up for the team – Renault’s luxury sub-brand – which is entering its third season following a name change.

Last year was the most successful, with Alpine succeeding in overtaking McLaren as the fastest midfield team after a major rule overhaul.

“We are here for the long term,” said Renault CEO Luca de Meo. “I hope we can get closer to the top.”

Team boss Otmar Szafnauer added: “The gap to third is big and we have to close that gap.

“We need less DNFs, more points, hopefully some podiums and closer to third than in 2022.

“We will soon be where we want to be, and this is the fight for the world championship.”

Watch pre-season testing live on Sky Sports F1 from Thursday.