- Alpine claimed its second podium of the season in front of 98,874 spectators at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
- The A-arrow brand conducted the first public runs of the Alpenglow Hy6, its prototype fitted with a hydrogen-powered combustion engine.
- Alpine Endurance Team now turns its attention to the jewel in the calendar: the 24 Hours of Le Mans (14-15 June).
After Qatar and Italy, Alpine Endurance Team headed to Belgium for round three of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season.
Les Bleus had productive practice sessions on Thursday and Friday. The team completed 165 laps to fine-tune the A424‘s set-up despite three eventful sessions on the Ardennes rollercoaster. Mick Schumacher and Charles Milesi then tackled qualifying and secured the Alpine A424’s second consecutive double appearance in Hyperpole.
On Saturday, Frédéric Makowiecki (#36) and Ferdinand Habsburg (#35) took the start. Sixth and ninth on the grid, the two drivers were in fifth and tenth place at the end of the opening lap. Catching up quickly with the LMGT3 field, the Frenchman rose to the challenge in the traffic and moved up to third place before a superb overtake on the #51 Ferrari at the feet of the Raidillon. Meanwhile, the Austrian driver entered the top five, but a penalty for an infringement during a virtual safety car slowed his progress.
Jules Gounon (#36) and Charles Milesi (#35) took over two and a half hours into the race. The team successfully undercut the #50 Ferrari, which put Jules into the lead. After a pit-stop during a safety car, the Frenchman quickly regained the lead when the green flag came back out. At the same time, Charles Milesi was moving up through the field in the #35 car.
The team took advantage of another virtual safety car to put Mick Schumacher behind the wheel of the #36 car. The German driver continued his teammates’ efforts with a thrilling battle against the #51 Ferrari and the #20 BMW. Despite a slow puncture on the rear right tyre, he remained in contention thanks to the team’s quick thinking, who adjusted their strategy. In the #35, Paul-Loup Chatin took over from Charles Milesi for the final hour.
Mick Schumacher made his final pit-stop with 30 minutes to go. Fifth when he rejoined the track, he overtook the #7 Toyota before regaining a podium position when the #12 Cadillac eventually made its last pit stop. Chasing down the #50 Ferrari, the #36 Alpine secured its second podium finish of the season, less than a second behind its rival. Further back, Paul-Loup Chatin was up to fourth before a quick splash at the end of the race and finished eighth.
Thanks to its first double points finish of the year, Alpine consolidates its fourth place in the Hypercar Manufacturers’ World Endurance Championship ahead of its next outing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Alpine took advantage of the event to give the Alpenglow Hy6 and its 740 hp hydrogen-powered 3.5-litre V6 engine its first public run. In front of a record crowd (excluding Le Mans) of 98,874 spectators, the prototype combining innovation and carbon-neutral sportiness impressed with its expressive design and unique sound as a hydrogen category is planned at the 24 Hours of Le Mans around 2028.
Quotes
Crew #36
Frédéric Makowiecki
“I am extremely proud of the team. We secured a second consecutive podium finish with a strong performance from start to finish. It was a more accomplished performance than at Imola. The slow puncture was unfortunate as we were right in the mix, but that’s racing. More than the result, I’m pleased with how we are working and continuing to improve. I’m also feeling more and more confident with the car. There’s always a learning curve, but the more races we do, the more comfortable I feel and the more I can harness its potential.”
Jules Gounon
“There are many positives to take away from this weekend and our second consecutive podium result. The entire team worked very well; Fred did an exceptional double stint at the start of the race, we executed our plan and we reacted well after the puncture to come back through the field with Mick. It gives us hope for the future, but we are not getting ahead of ourselves. There is still a long way to go, and the goal is clear: to keep improving so that we are well prepared for Le Mans.”
Mick Schumacher
“It was a good race overall. We were fighting for the win until a slow puncture compromised our chances. We had to settle for the podium, but we can be happy with that. The trend is really moving forwards and upwards, and the team is getting better and better every weekend. Fred did an amazing stint to start the race, Jules took over and got into the lead, and it was a proper battle just until the finish. We’re on the right track and there is a lot to take away from this weekend. Now we’re excited to see what the next race will bring, and it’s obviously the big one. As a team, we are very much looking forward to it.”
Crew #35
Ferdinand Habsburg
“I am quite satisfied with our pace, but I need to analyse the situation that led to my penalty. It is good that this race exposed some of our weaknesses. It will allow us to keep improving and drive the team forward. Although we did not get a result yet, it motivates us for the race that means the most to us.”
Charles Milesi
“This is a positive team result ahead of Le Mans, especially as the sister car took its second consecutive podium finish. Our race became more complicated with the penalty. It was difficult to keep up with the other cars and overtake them in the second sector to catch up with the leading group. These first points, however, are a confidence booster, but we will have to avoid repeating our mistakes in the future.”
Paul-Loup Chatin
“It’s a great team result. This second podium in two races is no small feat at this level of competition, and I’m super happy for the #36. They drove a clean, error-free race, which is crucial in such a competitive championship. The performance was there on our side, but a small mistake cost us dearly. However, our work is starting to pay off. We even took a strategic gamble at the end of the race, but we came up a few seconds short. We know we still have work to do and will continue to give it our all.”
Philippe Sinault, Team Principal Alpine Endurance Team
“It’s hugely satisfying to secure our second consecutive podium finish. This result sent out a strong signal from the entire team, and we were in contention for the win for the first time. We performed well at Imola and Spa, which are two very different circuits. It shows that we are starting to understand our package and how to get the most out of it on demanding tracks. However, we know there is still much room for improvement and small details to refine. We had a strong race, but it wasn’t perfect, and we saw again that the slightest mistake can compromise everything. The goal is to build on what we’ve learnt and consolidate our foundations to be better prepared for Le Mans than we were a year ago.”
Nicolas Lapierre, Sporting Director Alpine Endurance Team
“It was a strong race for the team, and it was really satisfying to finish on the podium again. It is the first time we’ve been able to fight at the front from start to finish genuinely, and I’m delighted with the progress we’ve made and the pace we were able to display throughout the race. Unfortunately, the #36 car was hampered by a slow puncture that impacted our strategy. On the other side of the garage, a penalty for the #35 car put them in a tricky situation. Despite everything, we finished with both crews in the top eight, which is a solid result given the level of competition. It confirms our collective progress and bodes well as we are getting closer to our biggest challenge this year.”
CLASSIFICATIONS
TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
1. Ferrari AF Corse #51
3. Alpine Elf Endurance Team #36
8. Alpine Elf Endurance Team #35
FIA Hypercar World Endurance Drivers Championship
1. Calado / Giovinazzi / Pier Guidi – 75 points
5. Gounon / Makowiecki / Schumacher – 30 points
16. Chatin / Habsburg / Milesi – 4 points
FIA Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers Championship
1. Ferrari – 136 points
4. Alpine – 34 points
