Alpine has named its six drivers for 2025 FIA WEC season in Hypercar class, as Frderic Makoweicki joins the French outfit.
Fourth in the Manufacturers Championship in the debut season of its Hypercar A424, Alpine Endurance Team has already begun meticulous preparations for its second campaign in the FIA World Endurance Championship. On the strength of what it has learnt and its progress through the eight rounds of the 2024 calendar, the A-arrow brand reveals today the drivers who will defend its colours in 2025.
Charles Milesi
Alpine Endurance Team reaffirms its confidence in Charles Milesi, who has confirmed his status as one of the most promising young drivers on the grid with three Hyperpole appearances, the team’s best qualifying result and the first fastest race lap in the history of the A424. The 23-year-old Frenchman is determined to build on his promising start in the premier category and take his career with Alpine to the next level. A tireless worker, Charles will undoubtedly be among the squad’s driving forces as they aim to star in the pinnacle of endurance racing.
Charles Milesi: “I’m thrilled to continue the adventure with Alpine. We all hope this new campaign will continue the positive things we saw in the second half of our 2024 season. The aim will be to improve everything we can on the car to extract even more performance from it in all areas and continue to work relentlessly on reliability to be at the front of the field more consistently.”
Paul-Loup Chatin
Paul-Loup Chatin, on hand for Alpine’s world championship debut, rejoined Les Bleus in 2024 for its return to the premier category. The 33-year-old Frenchman, already a title winner in ELMS and IMSA, quickly adapted to the Hypercar with his sure-footed, incisive driving style to help seal fourth place in the manufacturers’ championship in a head-to-head battle in the Bahrain final. Building on his experience with the A424, Paul-Loup and his teammates will look to take the team to the next level.
Paul-Loup Chatin: “I want to thank Alpine for their continued confidence in 2025. I’m already looking forward to the calendar’s first race to see where we stand with all the experience gained in 2024. We’ve had a year of learning in which we perfected and improved our car throughout the season. We hope our efforts will bear fruit, and Qatar will be the first litmus test.”
Ferdinand Habsburg
Brought in last year, Ferdinand Habsburg showed the extent of his talent with strong performances throughout the 2024 season. The 27-year-old Austrian has an unrivalled team spirit and is preparing to contest his second campaign, the first of which he missed two races due to injury. A class winner at the 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours with Charles Milesi, Ferdinand will be back even stronger and again be at the heart of the Alpine project to continue driving the team forward.
Ferdinand Habsburg: “It’s exciting to be back with the iconic Alpine brand as they continue their return to the pinnacle of endurance racing – a place in motorsport where they truly belong. Our first season with Alpine was about building relationships and trust between the drivers, mechanics, and engineers. Establishing that connection was key, and I believe that if we continue to strengthen those bonds, we’ll become an even greater force to be reckoned with. The car itself is inherently strong, and now it’s about ensuring the team continues to gel and work together like a family, just as we’ve been doing in 2024. If we keep that momentum, I’m confident we can achieve even more in the future.”
Jules Gounon
2024 Alpine Endurance Team reserve driver Jules Gounon contested his first four FIA WEC races with the A424, standing in for Ferdinand Habsburg, Paul-Loup Chatin and Nicolas Lapierre. The Aubenas native, a reference in GT racing, who has won at iconic circuits such as Spa, Daytona and Bathurst, took his first foray into Hypercar racing in all seriousness. On the strength of these experiences, the man who will soon turn 30 has received a race seat to continue his prototype development with Alpine in 2025.
Jules Gounon: “I’m going into this season in a very positive frame of mind. It will be my first full FIA World Endurance Championship campaign with Alpine Endurance Team, having been a reserve driver in 2024. I was able to contest four races, but I’m genuinely happy to become a full-time driver thanks to Alpine’s confidence. It’s a close-knit team. There is close collaboration among everyone and excellent understanding between all the drivers, which allows the whole team to work well and move forward together.”
Frédéric Makowiecki
“Mako”, a household name in endurance racing circles, will join Alpine for the 2025 season. With a plethora of experience forged with prestigious teams, the Frenchman has excelled in GT, but also in Hypercar racing over the last two years. With four podium finishes last year, this peerless driver and developer will contribute his expertise, technical mastery and race craft to the A-arrow brand team. His presence will be a significant asset in the A424’s second campaign.
Frédéric Makowiecki: “I am extremely proud as a French driver. It’s something special to represent a French manufacturer in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the possibility of aiming for an overall victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, especially as Alpine has a vibrant motorsport history. I truly liked the team’s approach and development. Alpine improved and excelled in its first season against very tough competition. I’m joining humbly, but I want to contribute to the team significantly. Doing everything better than everyone else will be crucial if we are to get over the final hurdles, and I’m already looking forward to Qatar!”
Mick Schumacher
Endurance newcomer Mick Schumacher established himself as one of Alpine Endurance Team’s best assets during the A424’s apprenticeship campaign. Well-versed in the demands of the very highest level, the 25-year-old German proved his ability on track, adapting quickly to the prototypes and claiming a podium finish with his teammates in the 6 Hours of Fuji. Now familiar with the intricacies of his new discipline, Mick is ready to take on the biggest names in the sport with Alpine in 2025.
Mick Schumacher : “I am delighted that I will continue to be part of the Alpine Endurance adventure. We had a great first year together, and I am determined to help ensure that the performance of the program is even better in the second year. We have defined a few points where we want to attack, so I’m really looking forward to my second endurance season.”
Bruno Famin, VP Alpine Motorsports: “It is with great pleasure to announce the drivers who will defend Alpine’s colours in next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship. We have selected talented drivers who are not only fast but also have 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 race craft 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 allow us to rise to the challenges that await us in the 2025 season.”
Nicolas Lapierre, Sporting Director Alpine Endurance Team: “By bringing back 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 exactly what we need at this phase of the project. We’re delighted to have such an asset join our ranks.”
Philippe Sinault, Team Principal Alpine Endurance Team: “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 huge contributions to setting up the project, showing real dedication. Jules has continued his integration through his role as a reverse 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 give us 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.”
[The story is as per press release]