ALPINE ACADEMY PRESS PACK The Alpine Academy – formerly the Renault Sport Academy – enters its sixth year in 2021 and its first as part of the overall transition to Alpine F1 Team.
The programme has grown from Prix, on the back of two wins strength to strength each year in his rookie campaign. Zhou since it was established in 2016. will start his third year with Its goal from the outset has the Academy, remaining with been clear and remains so: for UNI-Virtuosi Racing for another an Alpine Academy driver to be season in Formula 2 following in Formula 1 and become world his maiden win in the series last champion with the team. year. Rounding off the Academy contenders in Formula 2 is Oscar Despite a challenging year for – the reigning FIA Formula 3 the motorsports industry, the Champion – who will be racing Academy was able to execute a his rookie season in the series full programme of junior motor with defending champions racing in 2020 and achieve some PREMA Racing. excellent results on and off the track. On top of the individual Completing this year’s Alpine success achieved by its young Academy line-up is the reigning drivers in each of their respective Formula Renault Eurocup seasons, the Academy drivers champion, Victor Martins, and gained invaluable experience the series runner-up Caio Collet. from several young driver test Victor joins the programme days with the Formula 1 team for a second time having first throughout the year, which in signed at the start of 2018, turn contributed to the overall while Brazilian driver Caio development of the race team. embarks on his third year with the Academy. Both Victor and This year the Alpine Academy Caio will compete in their rookie consists of five drivers. Christian, seasons in Formula 3 this year as who is the longest serving teammates for MP Motorsport, member on the programme, following on from their enters his fifth season with the enthralling title battle last year Academy and his second year in in the Eurocup. FIA Formula 2 with ART Grand
ALPINE ACADEMY | PRESS PACK | 2021 How would you assess Zhou, over the past two years, we were fighting neck and neck last we have with the hope they will Christian and Oscar’s ambitions believe it will help him to perform year and we feel by pairing them develop our drivers and achieve in the 2021 FIA Formula 2 consistently at a very high level. together in the same team, both greater success in the junior Championship? This will be the first time will push each other and the team formulae. In Formula 2, we have Zhou Christian will enter a second to the absolute limit. Selecting MP competing his third year in the year of a racing championship. Motorsport in Formula 3 was a big Will the team continue to use its series, Christian embarking on his Since he left karting, he has only decision by everyone, including Formula 1 test team for young second year and Oscar entering done one season in an individual the drivers. We have been building driver tests? as a rookie. The level and the championship. We have full the partnership with MP in the The focus and the target has competition between our three confidence in Christian’s ability in Eurocup for the past three years always been to prepare the drivers drivers will be very high and we maximising his potential to fight with much success and we believe at any time when they get the hope that they will push each for the title. the time is right for us to create opportunity to be in a Formula other and raise the bar. Zhou and For Oscar, we have a driver and build something together in 1 car. Likewise, it trains the test Christian are staying with their who has won back-to-back Formula 3. We expect to see some team before they move onto the respective teams from last season championships in Formula good and positive results from the race team. Therefore, the Formula and Oscar remains with PREMA. Renault Eurocup and Formula 3. Caio-Victor-MP package this year. 1 private test programme at This will give all three of them By continuing his development various circuits in the Renault stability to focus and maximise with PREMA, we believe he will How is the Alpine Academy R.S.18 car will continue this year their package between team and challenge for podiums and wins. collaborating with the different to help prepare both sides. driver. The target is clear: to win The three drivers know what is junior teams? The experience the drivers the championship. The objective around the corner for them within Like MP Motorsport in Formula 3, gather from the Formula 1 test comes with pressure, but we our Formula 1 structure. The we are working closer than ever programme matched with believe Zhou and Christian are opportunity will come for those with our partners PREMA, UNI- performing and delivering results experienced enough to handle who perform the best. Virtuosi and ART Grand Prix in in Formula 2, will only strengthen those demands having already Formula 2. We continue to grow our drivers’ case to be selected to competed in Formula 2, while What are your thoughts on Caio and build relationships with them the Formula 1 team. Oscar has the experience of being and Victor racing in Formula 3? using the expertise and tools that in a title fight having won last In Formula 3, we believe we have year’s Formula 3 championship in the most exciting pairing with the closing laps of the final race. Caio and Victor. We welcome back Victor to the programme ” THE FOCUS AND THE TARGET HAS ALWAYS What are the aims for the after he won the Formula Renault Formula 2 trio of drivers? Eurocup title in 2020. We have BEEN TO PREPARE THE DRIVERS AT ANY Zhou will have nothing to lose seen the strong development of but all to gain in entering his Caio over the past two years in the TIME WHEN THEY GET THE OPPORTUNITY third year in Formula 2. With the Eurocup and we believe he is now experiences he has accumulated ready for Formula 3. Both drivers TO BE IN A FORMULA 1 CAR.” MIA SHARIZMAN ALPINE ACADEMY DIRECTOR
ALPINE ACADEMY | PRESS PACK | 2021 @LUNDGAARDOFF LUNDGAARDOFFICIAL TWITTER INSTAGRAM 19 DANISH AGE NATIONALITY
2020 2 4 1 WINS PODIUMS POLE POSITIONS 1 149 CHRISTIAN FASTEST LAPS POINTS
FIA FORMULA 2 CHAMPIONSHIP ARTFIA GRANDFORMULA PRIX 2 CHAMPIONSHIP ART GRAND PRIX PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIPS 7 th 6th 2nd 2020 FIA 2019 FIA 2018 FORMULA FORMULA 2 FORMULA 3 RENAULT CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP EUROCUP (1ST ROOKIE) 1 st 1 st 2017 2017 SMP F4 NEZ SPANISH F4 CHAMPIONSHIP
ALPINE ACADEMY | PRESS PACK | 2021 CHRISTIAN
FIA FORMULA 2 CHAMPIONSHIP ART GRAND PRIX
Christian remains with the programme for a fifth consecutive year having joined the Academy in 2017.
After a promising rookie campaign in the FIA Formula 2 Championship – featuring two wins – Christian remains in the primary Formula 1 support series for 2021 with ART Grand Prix; extending his collaboration with the French team for a third season.
The Danish teenager joined the Academy following an impressive career in European and World ” WE HAVE SO MANY TOOLS Karting Championships. His first year in single- seaters led to two Formula 4 titles – NEZ and TO HELP US DEVELOP AND Spanish – before he finished runner-up in the 2018 Formula Renault Eurocup as a rookie. In 2019, IMPROVE AS PEOPLE AND AS Christian stepped up to Formula 3, finishing sixth, before progressing to Formula 2 last year. RACING DRIVERS.”
How does it feel to begin your achieve together. I’m very happy the outside picture and it proves lower categories as it helps you completely different to the lower opening some really good training fifth season with the Academy? to be with the team as it’s another we had the potential to win the throughout the different series. junior categories. We have so facilities. My nearest one is one It’s really positive to be with the huge opportunity. I’m grateful to championship. Some things didn’t All the tools we have within the many tools to help us develop and hour’s drive away, so it’s a long team for five years. I joined when I everyone involved to make this go our way – that’s no excuse, Academy and within the team improve as people and as racing day and there’s not much time was 16, when I was a kid. Now, I’ve possible. though – and we’re confident itself is a benefit. Everything is drivers. for rest! I’ve also been going into grown up with the team, learned if we put it all together, we can there and available to help us other detailed things. I’ve been and matured throughout those What are your thoughts on the make it work. That’s the objective improve, for example the training How is winter training analysing individual races, looking Q&A years and developed not only as a 2021 FIA Formula 2 campaign? and the plan for 2021. We have camps. Anyone can organise a progressing? at reports, going into detail racing driver, but also as a human Firstly, looking back at 2020, the tools to make it happen. training camp themselves, but I relaxed over Christmas and New from previous years to learn and being. I’ve learned so much during I think it was a positive year. to have these camps with other Year and spent time at home. understand as much as possible. this process, but there are still Speaking to the team, we didn’t What benefits do you get from drivers, professional trainers and From the 2 January, I’ve been I’ve been doing lots of technical lots of things to do and achieve fulfil the maximum potential being on the Academy? all those small things behind training and working every day. things with the team and the and that’s why we’re continuing. of the speed we had with the The biggest benefit is learning the scenes is what makes the The Covid situation has made Academy: daily calls and catching They see potential in me, and we overall package. We had some to cope with pressure. It’s difference long term. We’re also physical training a little harder up with different people. I feel share the same passion and the good results and, looking at the great to learn how to deal with able to work closely with F1 than usual, but I have a home gym ready for the season, and I look same dream, which we want to statistics, it looks better than that from an early age in the engineers and that is something and Team Denmark have helped in forward to it starting.
ALPINE ACADEMY | PRESS PACK | 2021 GYZHOU_33 @车手周冠宇 WEIBO INSTAGRAM 21 CHINESE AGE NATIONALITY
2020 1 5 1 WINS PODIUMS POLE POSITIONS 4 151.5 GUANYU FASTEST LAPS POINTS
PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIPS 6 th 7th 8th FIA FORMULA 2 CHAMPIONSHIP 2020 FIA 2019 FIA 2018 FIA FORMULA 2 FORMULA 2 FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP EUROPEAN UNI-VIRTUOSI RACING CHAMPIONSHIP 8th 13th 2017 FIA 2016 FIA FORMULA 3 FORMULA 3 EUROPEAN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP 6th 2nd 2016 TOYOTA 2015 ITALIAN F4 RACING SERIES CHAMPION SHIP
ALPINE ACADEMY | PRESS PACK | 2021 GUANYU
FIA FORMULA 2 CHAMPIONSHIP UNI-VIRTUOSI RACING
Guanyu Zhou continues his Academy affiliation for a third season as he remains in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with UNI-Virtuosi.
Zhou joined the programme in 2019 on the back of three consecutive years in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. He impressed in his debut Formula 2 season, claiming the ‘Top Rookie’ ” FORMULA 1 IS MY DREAM AND award after achieving five podiums on his way to a MY TARGET AND THE TEAM HAS seventh-place championship finish. The potential was there for a title charge in 2020, but Zhou was GIVEN ME CHANCES TO TEST struck by bitter moments of misfortune, which put paid to his chances. Nevertheless, the Chinese THE FORMULA 1 CAR IN MY ROLE driver took his first Formula 2 race win in Russia, as well as a further five podium visits to cement sixth AS TEST DRIVER.” in the championship. To cap off last year, Zhou took part in the official Formula 1 post-season Abu Dhabi test in the Renault R.S.20. It’s your third year on the Formula 1 is my dream and my experience. I remember my first What are your targets for everything will come my way and as that will compromise the whole programme, how does that feel? target and the team has given me time jumping in a Formula 1 the 2021 FIA Formula 2 we can have a good season. weekend. It feels good to be with the chances to test the Formula 1 car car and the steering wheel, for Championship? Academy for a third year. There’s a in my role as Test Driver over the example, felt quite complicated Firstly, I learnt a lot last season. What do you make of the new How is your winter training really good relationship between last two seasons. I’ve done a lot of as everything was new for me. It was clear how much bad luck FIA Formula 2 calendar? going? the team and I and I think it’s days to develop the car, including Now, I don’t have to think about I had and, while finishing sixth We have some new tracks to I’ve been in Shanghai and it’s been going well. We have a lot simulator work. All of these things any switches on the wheel as was okay, it was only a few points learn. I like new tracks as it’s been going well. I’m following a of trust and we’ve worked well are benefiting my future and everything is in my head. I also away from the top three. This not just new for me, it’s new for programme I’ve been set by the together over the two years, getting me used to everything know how I have to change my year, the target is to win the title. everyone. Both team and driver team, and my physio. There’s lots Q&A especially last year. We did the already. I feel more ready than I driving style between Formula 2 The important thing is to get will need to adapt to the new of things I can do, and I don’t have Formula 1 post-Abu Dhabi test in was three years ago when I wasn’t and Formula 1. The downforce, the superlicense points, but that circuits and have a strong baseline to go to the gym all the time. December and that was a special having these opportunities. It compared to any other category, does not mean I won’t push to set-up. The new calendar has I’ve been playing some football, moment for me, so it’s an honour also helps me in Formula 2 as is special. The more mileage I do win the championship. Last year, three races each weekend, so it’s basketball and badminton as to continue and having the team I understand things from the in an F1 car, the better it is, as I improved my driving and my even more important to always well. This winter has been busy believe in me and in my career. engineers a lot more. it helps me to understand the mental knowledge. I had to adapt finish inside the points and have with testing and racing in Asian car and the engineers and they to bounce back from the bad a chance for the reverse grid race. Formula 3, so I feel even more What are the main benefits of How special is it to have the also get to know me and my luck, but I think that’s made me a Qualifying will be tight as always ready than last year! being on the Academy? opportunity to drive the preferences. stronger driver. This year, I’ll take and everyone will have a chance. I’d say having the opportunities Formula 1 car? that experience from the past You cannot afford mistakes, within the Formula 1 team. It’s definitely an amazing and put it all together. Hopefully especially in qualifying or race one
ALPINE ACADEMY | PRESS PACK | 2021 @OSCARPIASTRI OSCARPIASTRI TWITTER INSTAGRAM 19 AGE AUSTRALIAN NATIONALITY
2020 2 4 0 OSCAR WINS PODIUMS POLE POSITIONS 4 164 FASTEST LAPS POINTS
FIA FORMULA 2 CHAMPIONSHIP PREMA RACING PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIPS 1 st 1 st 2020 FIA 2019 FORMULA FORMULA 3 RENAULT EUROCUP 8th 2nd 2018 FORMULA 2017 BRITISH RENAULT FORMULA 4 EUROCUP
ALPINE ACADEMY | PRESS PACK | 2021 OSCAR
FIA FORMULA 2 CHAMPIONSHIP PREMA RACING
Oscar enters his second year with the Academy as a back-to-back single-seaters junior champion, having secured the FIA Formula 3 title last year and the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2019.
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Oscar already has a wealth of racing experience having started karting in 2011 before transitioning to single-seater racing ” THE BIGGEST THING I LEARNT in 2016. Oscar finished that maiden year runner-up WAS PROBABLY THE AMOUNT in the British Formula 4 Championship, and, a year later, he finished eighth in the Eurocup with three OF COMMITMENT THAT IS podiums to his name. He clinched the 2019 title with seven victories from 20 races. REQUIRED TO PERFORM AT SUCH
He added a second career championship to A HIGH LEVEL.” his résumé last year, claiming the Formula 3 Championship in his rookie season for PREMA Racing taking two victories and four podiums. The nineteen-year-old moves up the ranks once again How did it feel winning the FIA Was there a standout moment What are your targets heading Has your preparation and You drove the R.S.18 last year What did you learn the most this year and suits up for PREMA in FIA Formula 2. Formula 3 title in your debut for you last year? into the FIA Formula 2 season training differed in preparation – your first experience in a from your first year with the season? I can’t single out one moment, with PREMA Racing? for the step up into an FIA Formula 1 car - how was it? Academy? It was awesome to win the Formula so I’ll choose two! The first one It’s good to be with PREMA Racing Formula 2 car? It’s something I’ll never forget. The biggest thing I learnt 3 Drivers’ Championship in my was the season opener in Austria again and build off what we did This year the car is obviously a bit It’s a short list of names who have was probably the amount of rookie season. Looking back, I where I took the win on my debut last year but I don’t have a specific harder to drive and the races are driven an actual Formula 1 car so commitment that is required to probably exceeded my expectations in the series, it was probably my target this season. My goal, as longer so that will be a challenge I’m lucky to have had that chance. perform at such a high level. It’s a little with the title win. I knew highlight of the season. I couldn’t with any year, is to challenge but overall my training hasn’t The car itself was very impressive, extremely beneficial to be close to Q&A I was in a historically strong car have started the season any my teammate. It’ll be a similar changed much. For the last two particularly the braking. It was a the team and take learnings from going into the season with PREMA better, especially after such a mindset to last year, where if I at to three years I’ve really been good experience to learn all the that. I live close to the factory Racing, so I set the bar quite long break from racing. Then the least beat them, I’ll hopefully be pushing myself to be in good different aspects and processes. and even just going into the gym high and started out by at least second standout moment for me near the front of the grid. But let’s physical condition, so I’m looking It’ll no doubt help me with my at the factory and speaking with challenging my teammates. I knew was the race in Monza where I see, it’s such an unpredictable to maintain that and build on it progression and career going the team most days when I’m not if I could beat them then I would went from fifteenth on the grid series as we saw last year. where I can. forward and I hope to get more racing has helped to show me just be there or thereabouts come to finish third. It was probably chances in the future. how much commitment is needed. the end of the year. It was a great the defining moment in the It’s driven me even further to feeling and I want to continue the championship for me and my best make that next step and get into momentum into this year. race. Formula 1 in the future.
ALPINE ACADEMY | PRESS PACK | 2021 @CAIO_COLLET CAIOCOLLET TWITTER INSTAGRAM 18 BRAZILIAN AGE NATIONALITY
2020 5 7 3 WINS PODIUMS POLE POSITIONS 4 304 CAIO FASTEST LAPS POINTS
FIA FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP MP MOTORSPORT PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2 nd 5 th 2020 FORMULA 2019 FORMULA RENAULT RENAULT EUROCUP EUROCUP 1st 2018 FRENCH F4 CHAMPIONSHIP
ALPINE ACADEMY | PRESS PACK | 2021 CAIO
FIA FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP MP MOTORSPORT
Caio begins his third season with the Academy after another strong campaign last year that saw the Brazilian finish runner-up in the Formula Renault Eurocup following five wins and seven podiums.
Caio joined the Academy ahead of the 2019 season as part of his prize for winning the 2018 French F4 Championship. Born in São Paulo, Caio began his racing career as a karter in Brazil in 2009, moving to Europe in 2015 where he was crowned CIK-FIA Rookie of the Year.
His first opportunity in single-seaters was in ” THE FORMULA 3 SERIES IS PART OF THE January 2018 in the Formula 4 UAE Championship FORMULA 1 WEEKEND, SO NATURALLY IT before his successful run to the French F4 title. Caio stepped up into the Eurocup in 2019 finishing HAS MORE EYES ON IT AND IT’S GOING TO fifth that year then claiming second place last year in a tight championship battle with Victor Martins. BE IMPORTANT TO PERFORM TO YOUR BEST
Looking ahead to this year, Caio will race for MP EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND.” Motorsport competing in his first season in the FIA Formula 3 Championship. How pleased are you to enter You had a great year finishing it’s important to never give up and It’s also a very competitive series with the Academy prior to a new for a faster car this year. I’ve also your third year with the as runner up in Formula Renault I’ll take this with me into this year with some of the best young season, but it’s important to be done more to prepare myself Academy in 2021? Eurocup, what did you learn the and beyond. drivers in the world so it’s going in the best shape physically and mentally for this season. As we’ve I’m very happy to remain with most from last season? to be a fight from start to finish. mentally ahead of the year. I’m seen last year, anything can the Alpine Academy for another There were some strong results How do you feel ahead of your The target, as always, is to win the looking forward to it all starting happen in a season, and you need year and grateful for all the last year in a challenging year for debut in the FIA Formula 3 championship. and being behind the wheel again. to be able to deal with several Q&A opportunities and everything everyone, but it ultimately wasn’t Championship? challenges along the way not only the team has done for me so far. quite what we wanted with us just I’m really looking forward to this How’s training going for you Is there anything you are doing physically but mentally too. I’ve developed a lot as a driver in missing out on the championship. season with MP Motorsport. ahead of the new season? differently ahead of making the two years I’ve been with the I learnt a lot from the experience. The Formula 3 series is part of the My training is going very well the jump into slightly more Academy and I’m excited to see There were some really strong Formula 1 weekend, so naturally it ahead of the new season and powerful machinery? what we can do heading into my races and I picked up a few good has more eyes on it and it’s going we’re currently on a training On top of all the usual fitness and third year. wins and podiums. But the biggest to be important to perform to camp ahead of the start of the physical training, I’ve intensified thing I learnt from last year is that your best every single weekend. campaign. We do one every year my neck training in preparation
ALPINE ACADEMY | PRESS PACK | 2021 VICTORMARTINSFR INSTAGRAM 19 FRENCH AGE NATIONALITY
2020 7 7 10 WINS PODIUMS POLE POSITIONS 8 348 VICTOR FASTEST LAPS POINTS
FIA FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP MP MOTORSPORT PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIPS 1 st 2 nd 2020 FORMULA 2019 FORMULA RENAULT RENAULT EUROCUP EUROCUP 5th 2nd 2018 FORMULA 2017 FRENCH RENAULT EUROCUP FORMULA 4 (3RD ROOKIE) (1ST ROOKIE)
ALPINE ACADEMY | PRESS PACK | 2021 VICTOR
FIA FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP MP MOTORSPORT
Victor Martins re-joins the Academy after a one- year hiatus in 2020, during which he won the Formula Renault Eurocup title. For 2021, Victor will race in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with MP Motorsport.
Victor was on the programme between 2018 and 2019 after catching the eye during his French Formula 4 campaign in 2017 as a young rookie. His raw speed propelled him to a fifth-place finish in his maiden Eurocup effort before he narrowly missed out on the title to Oscar Piastri a year later. The Frenchman set his sights on winning the Eurocup title in 2020 with ART Grand Prix, which ” THERE’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SURROUND he achieved following his seven wins and seven podiums across the 20-race season, ensuring his MYSELF WITH IMPORTANT AND INSPIRING return to the programme. PEOPLE LIKE THE ENTIRE F1 TEAM.”
How does it feel to be back on valuable things and access again. to race in Formula 3. It’s the next be good to race on the Formula 1 back quickly if it’s not going well. How is your training going the programme? I had to accept during the step in the junior categories, so weekends. You see the cars up There’s time to analyse between in preparation for this new It feels amazing because when previous years that you need to I’m looking forward to starting close and that’s really cool and it rounds and it’s quite good to stay challenge? I left the Academy for 2020 it keep going and keep doing the the season. The most important makes the ultimate goal feel even in the zone. I think the three races I’m on it! I’ll keep going with my wasn’t easy. It meant I wasn’t job. From what I learnt with the thing for me is to enjoy the season closer. When we’re in our paddock, per weekend will be a challenge training up until the beginning able to have all the advice from Academy in 2018 and 2019, I knew because I have to consider myself Formula 1 is just metres away and and I don’t think it will be so of the season and the pre-season everyone in the Academy and I had to deliver good results and as a rookie and an outsider. they are watching us. There’s an important to be on pole position tests. I’ve made some changes to without access to the simulator, keep that going right to the end of There’s not too much pressure and opportunity to surround myself to have a good weekend overall. my training programme, adding Q&A physical training help, preparation the season. I managed to progress I want to use the experience of with important and inspiring It’s always nice to have pole more endurance like cycling and advice and I wasn’t wearing and make that final step and won everyone in my new team. I know people like the entire F1 team, positions for people to see your running. It’s about more cardio the Renault colours when I was the title. them from when I raced for MP with whom I could exchange qualifying pace, but it will be more and more neck training to deal driving. It was difficult to accept, Motorsport in 2019, even if it’s not productive conversations. important to be consistent across with the corners and G-force. It’s but I’m pleased with how I moved How much are you looking the same engineers or mechanics. the three races and pick up lots of not easy with the current situation on and how I worked hard to be forward to stepping up to FIA I aim to create a positive What are your thoughts on the points. but I’m able to do my training in back with the Academy in 2021. Formula 3? environment around me and work FIA Formula 3 calendar? a centre in Paris, so I’m working I knew if I did a good job in 2020, I’m really looking forward to it as much as possible with those It’s quite good with seven rounds hard with them. I like going to the I could come back and have the as it’s been a long time waiting around me like the Academy, my and three races per weekend. It’s gym, I like every kind of sport, so I team and my family. It’s going to going to be important to bounce do enjoy this time of year!
ALPINE ACADEMY | PRESS PACK | 2021 3D Model: Race Sim Studio