Alpine set launch date, two teams yet to announce their plans

The freshly-rebranded Alpine F1 Team has become the latest Formula One team to set date to unveil its new 2021 car with only Haas and Red Bull yet to confirm their launch dates.

McLaren became the first team to unveil its 2021 F1 car with the Woking-based team having taken the cover off its brand-new Mercedes-powered MCL35M on Monday in a live online launch.

The Alpine F1 Team has now confirmed that its new car, the A521 is set to be unveiled on March 2. The French team opted for the same day that the reigning world champion squad Mercedes will present its new contender, the W12.

The former Reanult team has undergone significant changes over the winter. The French outfit will race under the Alpine F1 Team banner and will field a new driver line-up with Esteban Ocon staying for a second year, but with bringing two-time world champion Fernando Alonso back on board.

Alpine made a shock announcement at the beginning of the year when it confirmed the departure of former Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul. Ex-Suzuki MotoGP boss Davide Brivio has been brought in as the team's new Racing Director following a shake-down by new CEO Luca de Meo.

The Enstone-based outfit’s announcement increased the number ot teams that have already confirmed their launch date to eight. Following McLaren’s presentation, AlphaTauri is due to unveil its new car, the AT02 this Friday, followed by Alfa Romeo on February 22, Alpine and Mercedes on March 2, Aston Martin on March 3 and Williams on March 5.

Ferrari will hold two separate presentations with the Italian team organising a team launch on February 26 and another show for its new 2021 F1 car on March 10, just two days before pre-season testing gets underway in Bahrain. Red Bull Racing and Haas F1 Team are yet to announce their plans.