Alpinestars: From McLaren F1 Team's 'Battle Suit' to Balenciaga Collaboration
At the recently concluded F1 Miami Grand Prix, McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished second and third respectively, wearing racing suits, shoes, and gloves from one brand — Italian motorsport equipment brand Alpinestars.
Since the 2024 season, Alpinestars has been the official technical clothing partner of McLaren Racing, the official racewear supplier for Haas F1 Team, and a team supplier for Alpine F1 Team.
Lando Norris (left) and Oscar Piastri (right)
Beyond F1, Alpinestars has long-term partnerships with teams such as Lamborghini Squadra Corse GT racing team, and provides equipment for individual riders in NASCAR and MotoGP. The brand also sells products directly to consumers via its official website, enjoying high prestige and influence in the motorcycle and racing sectors.
Alpinestars official website racing apparel:
Alpinestars official website motorcycle apparel:
Founded in 1963, Alpinestars remains a family business, headquartered in Asolo, a town at the foot of the Alps in the Veneto region of northern Italy, and has never accepted large external investments. According to Tracxn, Alpinestars received only a small grant in 2018.
Alpinestars was founded by Sante Mazzarolo, with the brand name derived from the Italian "Stella Alpina," meaning edelweiss growing on the Alps. Sante was the third-generation heir of an Italian leather workshop. Initially, the brand launched ski boots and hiking boots. Later, after speaking with an endurance racer who needed boots specifically designed for off-road riding, Sante introduced the first motorcycle boots in 1965, innovatively replacing traditional laces with steel shin guards and buckle closure systems, thus entering the motorcycle sports sector.
The two images above show Alpinestars' headquarters, photographed by pinkbink.com in 2013
In the 1980s, Sante Mazzarolo's son Gabriele established a subsidiary in the United States and began developing mountain sports equipment. By the early 1990s, Alpinestars started developing racing shoes, entering the F1 racing field, and later in the mid-1990s launched its first technical apparel line.
Above: Sante Mazzarolo (left) and Gabriele Mazzarolo (right)
In 2000, Alpinestars established a dedicated racing apparel division and deepened official partnerships with F1 teams, including Renault, Red Bull, Honda, and others.
Gabriele Mazzarolo officially took over management in 1993, leading the brand into broader international expansion, establishing a Southeast Asia headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, and an office in Tokyo, Japan.
At the same time, Alpinestars gave its products a fashionable twist, collaborating multiple times with Italian denim brand Diesel since 2019, transforming professional racing gear into everyday items blending street style.
In 2024, Alpinestars launched a high-end fashion line, Alpinestars RSRV, with Gabriele's wife Denise Focil serving as CEO, designer, and head of collaborations. Denise Focil is an experienced designer who previously founded and operated sustainable leather brand AS by DF.
Alpinestars RSRV primarily releases new products through collaborations, with partners including French luxury brand Balenciaga, Danish fashion brand Heliot Emil, and Korean designer JUUN.J.
Alpinestars RSRV x Balenciaga collaboration
Alpinestars RSRV x JUUN.J 2026 Fall/Winter collection
During the F1 Chinese Grand Prix in March this year, Alpinestars RSRV also set up an F1 pop-up space at Shanghai boutique LMDS, showcasing the full range of items.
| Sources: racing-fashion, Forbes, official press releases, Alpinestars RSRV Blog, esquire
| Images: Alpinestars and Alpinestars RSRV official Instagram; pinkbinke; official website