Alpine maintains the objective of fighting at the top of Formula 1 within a maximum period of 100 races, an objective that has not changed despite the abrupt end of the relationship with Fernando Alonso and the Piastri case.
Alpine defined a medium-term goal of being fighting at the top of Formula 1 within 100 runs. An intention that could well be considered as an appendix to ‘The Plan’ by Fernando Alonso, seeing the communion that existed between both parties. Nevertheless, the situation has changed since then.
The Enstone-based team has lived through turbulent weeks. Fernando Alonso has chosen to change the scene and will race for Aston Martin in 2023. For his part, Oscar Piastri he has gone from being a reserve driver and pressure point in negotiations with Alonso to being virtually out of the team as he will fight for McLaren next year.
“We still have to meet the car […] we have a good concept that gives us performance-enhancing upgrades”
Alpine finds itself like this without a tight driver lineup, with Esteban Ocon as the only confirmed driver and Pierre Gasly on the radar to complete the team’s roster if an agreement is reached with Red Bull. A complex position that, however, doesn’t derail Alpine from his goal of contending for big milestones within 100 races.
laurent rossiCEO of Alpine, at least considers it so: «The new situation Doesn’t mean we’ve gone off the rails for now, because we stay the course until the end of the year with Fernando. It’s okay. I’d say we should be able to just absorb this bump in the road, because the most important thing is the car at this stage».
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The ‘reduced’ value of the pilot
laurent rossi has somehow detracted from the differentiating effect that any driver can offer, referring indirectly to Fernando Alonso: “If you put Max Verstappen in a car that occupies the last positions, I doubt that he can make him go up three more positions. If you take a driver and put him in Red Bull, I’m sure he can achieve podium finishes and wins.».
Although this approach can be simplistic, Rossi defends his position by giving more value to the single-seater “as the biggest driver of performance at the moment. In that sense, we are fulfilling. We make the right changes, the team is focused and the plan is clear. We are strengthening our position. It will always be the most important thing that the car works».
Good competitive base
With this idea in mind, the Alpine CEO added: «The pilot will get you two or three extra tenths, something that in races or in a specific situation can be very important. Nevertheless, the difference between the third and fourth team is much more than any pilot could achieve.
“So for now, we still have to meet the car. The good news is that there seems to be a good concept that provides updates that improve the performance of the car constantly» has concluded the person in charge of the Enstone squad.
Font: autosport
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Photos: Alpine