Formula 1 star Pierre Gasly caused quite a stir among racing enthusiasts when he turned up at the Formula One 75 Live event in London in an unseen vehicle.
The French racer made his grand entrance at the glitzy event, hosted at London’s O2, in what has since been identified as the eagerly awaited Alpine A290.
Tuesday’s glamorous gathering celebrated the sport’s 75th anniversary and marked the inaugural occasion of launching a new season with all teams present in a combined event.
Fans globally tuned in via livestream to witness each team reveal their livery designs the unique colour schemes and branding applied to their cars for the 2025 season.
Pierre turned up in an all-electric hot hatch is an electrified reincarnation of the Renault 5 and was spotted on UK roads for the first time last night.
Nic Burnside, MD of Alpine UK, commented: “The Formula 1 launch was full of surprises, so it was great Pierre could set tongues wagging even before the event kicked off by arriving in the only model of our vehicle currently on British soil.
“It was a joy to see Pierre smiling how he would when on the podium when he climbed out of the car – then again, if you can win a race in F1 then dodging between all the buses and cars in rush hour is a doddle.”
The scene is set for a thrilling season, and following the team’s double podium finish towards the end of last year, the entire crew is electrified with anticipation for the new season.
The Alpine A290 comes with impressive performance credentials, capable of sprinting from 0 to 62 mph in a mere 6.4 seconds. Its 220 hp engine makes it a suitable ride for a Grand Prix victor like Gasly.
The new car boasts several innovative features inspired by Formula One, including an overtake button that instantly unlocks maximum power for swift overtaking manoeuvres.
Additionally, it is equipped with a telemetrics system to aid drivers in refining their skills and features reinforced sports seats that provide extra support without sacrificing comfort.
This vehicle marks the debut of an electric hot hatch in the UK market, ushering in a new era of electric sports cars.
Pierre, the winner of the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, shared his experience: “Driving the first official Alpine A290 through London to get to the launch ceremony was an incredible experience.
“It was a big occasion – but the car more than lived up to it, and it was so special to turn up in front of the crowds in a vehicle which won’t even launch in the UK until next month.
“I felt right at home in the vehicle, this is a road car that brings some of the F1 magic to everyday driving. It’s small, fast and fun – the first ‘true’ hot hatch for the electric age.”