Alpine Endurance Team Announces 2025 Driver Line-Up for FIA World Endurance Championship
In its debut season with the Hypercar A424, the Alpine Endurance Team secured fourth place in the Manufacturers Championship. It has now commenced detailed preparations for its second campaign in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Leveraging the knowledge gained and progress made across the 2024 season's eight rounds, the team today unveils the drivers who will represent them in 2025.
Alpine renews its commitment to Charles Milesi, who has proved himself as one of the most promising young talents on the grid with three Hyperpole appearances, the best qualifying result for the team, and the first fastest race lap ever recorded by the A424. At 23, the determined Frenchman aims to advance further in the premier category and elevate his career with Alpine. Known for his indefatigable spirit, Charles is poised to be a driving force as the team aspires to dominate in endurance racing.
"I'm delighted to continue my adventure with Alpine," says Charles. "We all hope to extend the positive developments from the second half of the 2024 season. Our objective is to enhance every aspect of the car to extract even greater performance from it in all areas and to continue our relentless focus on reliability to consistently lead the pack."
Paul-Loup Chatin, who assisted Alpine in their world championship debut, rejoined the team in 2024 for its return to the top category. The 33-year-old Frenchman, already a titleholder in both ELMS and IMSA, adapted swiftly to the Hypercar with his decisive, expert driving style, contributing significantly to securing fourth place in the manufacturers’ championship after a direct competition in the Bahrain finale. With his extensive experience with the A424, Paul-Loup and his colleagues are set to propel Alpine to new heights.
"I am grateful to Alpine for their continued trust in 2025," Paul-Loup comments. "I am keenly anticipating the start of the season to assess our standing with all the experience we've amassed in 2024. We've had a year of refinement in which we improved our car throughout the season. We hope our efforts will yield results, with Qatar as the initial test."
Introduced last year, Ferdinand Habsburg has displayed his considerable skill with solid performances throughout the 2024 season. The 27-year-old Austrian, a class victor at the 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours alongside Charles Milesi, is preparing for his second campaign, having missed two races previously due to injury. Ferdinand will again be integral to Alpine's strategy to push the team forward.
"It's thrilling to be back with the iconic Alpine brand as they continue their ascent to the pinnacle of endurance racing—a domain where they truly belong," shares Ferdinand. "Our first season with Alpine focused on building trust and relationships between drivers, mechanics, and engineers. Establishing that rapport was crucial, and I believe that by continuing to strengthen these bonds, we'll become an even more formidable force. The car itself is fundamentally robust, and now it's about ensuring the team continues to function cohesively and like a family, just as we've been doing in 2024. If we maintain this momentum, I'm confident we can achieve even more in the future."
2024 Alpine Endurance Team reserve driver Jules Gounon competed in his first four FIA WEC races with the A424, filling in for Ferdinand Habsburg, Paul-Loup Chatin, and Nicolas Lapierre. The native of Aubenas, an authority in GT racing with victories at iconic circuits such as Spa, Daytona, and Bathurst, approached his initial foray into Hypercar racing with utmost seriousness. Based on these experiences, the soon-to-be 30-year-old has been granted a race seat to continue his development in prototypes with Alpine in 2025.
"I am approaching this season with a very positive mindset," expresses Jules. "It will be my first full FIA World Endurance Championship campaign with Alpine Endurance Team, having served as a reserve driver in 2024. I was able to compete in four races, but I am genuinely excited to become a full-time driver, thanks to Alpine's confidence. It's a close-knit team where everyone collaborates closely, and there is excellent rapport amongst all drivers, which enables the whole team to work effectively and advance together."
"Mako," a well-known name in endurance racing circles, will join Alpine for the 2025 season. With extensive experience with prestigious teams, the Frenchman has excelled in GT and Hypercar racing over the past two years. With four podium finishes last year, this peerless driver and developer will bring his expertise, technical mastery, and racecraft to the A-arrow brand team. His presence will significantly enhance the A424's second campaign.
Frédéric Makowiecki states, "I am exceedingly proud as a French driver. It's something special to represent a French manufacturer in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the prospect of aiming for an overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, especially as Alpine has a vibrant motorsport history. I truly appreciated the team's approach and development. Alpine excelled and improved in its first season against very tough competition. I am joining humbly, but I want to contribute significantly to the team. Striving to do everything better than everyone else will be crucial if we are to overcome the final hurdles, and I am already looking forward to Qatar!"
Endurance newcomer Mick Schumacher established himself as one of the Alpine Endurance Team's standout assets during the A424's learning campaign. Well-versed in the highest level demands, the 25-year-old German demonstrated his prowess on track, adapting quickly to the prototypes and securing a podium finish with his teammates at the 6 Hours of Fuji. Now familiar with the nuances of his new discipline, Mick is prepared to challenge the biggest names in the sport with Alpine in 2025.
"I am overjoyed to continue being part of the Alpine Endurance adventure," Mick enthuses. "We had a fantastic first year together, and I am committed to ensuring that the performance of the programme is even better in the second year. We have identified several areas where we want to improve, and I'm really looking forward to my second endurance season."
Bruno Famin, VP of Alpine Motorsports, comments, "It is with immense pleasure that we announce the drivers who will represent Alpine's colours in next year's FIA World Endurance Championship. We have selected talented drivers who are not only fast but also possess an exemplary analytical capacity and mindset. We are well acquainted with Charles Milesi, Paul-Loup Chatin, Ferdinand Habsburg, and Mick Schumacher, all fully committed to the project. Our reserve driver, Jules Gounon, will become a full-time driver after preparing for this role over the past year. As for Frédéric Makowiecki, his experience, feedback, and racecraft will all be assets that will bolster our progress. Each brings a unique potential, with a single ambition: to improve the team and the A424 as much as possible. We have built a strong, close-knit group to build on the foundations of our first campaign, and the commitment of our drivers, coupled with their talent, will enable us to rise to the challenges that await us in the 2025 season."
Nicolas Lapierre, Sporting Director of Alpine Endurance Team, adds, "By retaining five drivers, we are opting for stability to continue working on our learning campaign. We're delighted to have Charles, Ferdinand, Jules, Mick, and Paul-Loup back on board. We also welcome Frédéric Makowiecki, an endurance racing specialist with an excellent technical background. His profile and contributions are precisely what we need at this phase of the project. We're delighted to have such an asset join our ranks."
Philippe Sinault, Team Principal of the Alpine Endurance Team, reflects, "Together with Bruno and Nicolas, we felt it was crucial to build on the strong foundations we had laid. Charles, Ferdinand, Mick, and Paul-Loup have made significant contributions to setting up the project, demonstrating real dedication. Jules has continued his integration through his role as a reserve driver and has met our expectations, so we were keen to promote him to the race team. Lastly, the arrival of Frédéric Makowiecki is a real plus. His presence will provide us with the benefit of his vast experience, as well as his racing and technical credentials. His mindset and character mirror our project. His personality makes you want to work with him, and his contribution will help us make headway towards our common goal."
