Alpine Academy line-up confirmed ahead of F1 2023 season

The Alpine Academy roster has expanded for the 2023 racing calendar, the team believing it now has its strongest line-up yet.

Not long ago there were doubts over whether the Alpine Academy would even continue to exist, the team stinging from the F1 court drama that saw their former academy star and reserve driver Oscar Piastri snub a promotion to their 2023 line-up, and instead sign with McLaren.

But, despite suggestions from the team that the Alpine Academy could be wound-up, instead they have fallen at the other end of the spectrum with a stacked line-up for 2023.

In Formula 2 Jack Doohan and reigning Formula 3 champ Victor Martins will fly the Alpine flag with Virtuosi Racing and ART Grand Prix respectively, while their exciting new recruit, 17-year-old Italian Gabriele Mini will compete in Formula 3 with Hitech.

Nikola Tsolov, one of the most promising young drivers anywhere in the junior ranks, will also compete in F3 with ART with Alpine backing.

Tsolov steps up from being an Alpine Affiliate driver to serving as a full-blown member of the programme, as does Abbi Pulling who will contest the first season of the new F1 Academy series.

Brazilian racer Matheus Ferreira has also gained full Alpine backing as he prepares for a season in Italian F4, as has Japanese prospect Kean Nakamura-Berta who continues in karting.

Alpine have also signed British youngster Aiden Neate who already has a podium finish to his name in the 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship.

Olli Caldwell and Caio Collet will retain an Alpine link without official backing, Caldwell having graduated into the team’s sportscar programme as he prepares to represent the team in the World Endurance Championship’s LMP2 class.

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Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi said: “The Alpine Academy has been strengthened and expanded for 2023 as it remains a seminal part of Alpine Racing’s ambitions in motorsport.

“While Formula 1 remains the pinnacle, we have adopted a fresh approach to the Academy from this year to expand opportunities under the Alpine umbrella where we have presence across many motorsport disciplines.

“We are dedicated to progressing drivers through the racing ranks to open up a greater talent pool across our racing teams.

“Of course, ultimately, the best talent have ambitions of reaching Formula 1 and that remains the objective, but by expanding our vision we will create opportunities to identify, nurture and help our young drivers become accomplished racing drivers who will represent the Alpine brand on a global scale.

“I’m excited to see what the 2023 drivers can achieve, and I look forward to following their respective seasons very closely.”

Alpine Academy director Julian Rouse added: “The 2023 Alpine Academy line-up is arguably the most competitive it’s ever been.

“It’s been great to expand our roster to eight drivers and be able to represent Alpine across many disciplines. In Formula 2, we have two drivers in Jack and Victor who both have the potential to be fighting near the front.

“It’s the same in Formula 3 with Nikola and Gabriele who I expect will be competitive from the get-go.

“Away from the Formula 1 support categories, we’re looking forward to seeing what Abbi, Matheus, Aiden and Kean can achieve across their respective series.

“I’m pleased to see Olli progressing into the sportscar world with us and this is just the start of a much closer and collaborative project where we at the Academy aim to count on the expertise of Alpine’s various racing divisions to give our drivers experience and opportunities.

“There are exciting times ahead and we’re all looking forward to working closely with our 2023 drivers.”