Alpine, the team owned by Renault, finished last season in sixth place overall, dropping from fourth place the previous year. Their drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, will continue to race for the team this season. Today, the French team unveiled their new car and announced that they will use two different liveries throughout the season. For the first eight races, the Alpine A524 car will be predominantly pink to match the colors of sponsor BWT. After that, it will revert back to the team’s familiar blue color.
During the launch presentation at the team’s Enstone factory, Matt Harman, the technical director of Alpine, spoke about the approach they took with the A524 car. He described it as aggressive but deliberate, with a focus on adding performance to the car. Harman emphasized that they have been learning from their experiences and using that knowledge to improve the car, rather than solely focusing on results.
Harman further explained that the project has been bold, with a focus on realizing new concepts and adding them to the car. They have created a strong foundation that will allow them to enhance performance in the future. The team has set targets for themselves and is determined to achieve them.
Bruno Famin, the team principal who took over last year, emphasized the need for improvement in all areas. While they are aware of their position compared to last year, they have no information about their competitors. Famin acknowledged that the Renault engine used by Alpine is at a disadvantage in terms of horsepower compared to their rivals, as confirmed by the governing FIA. However, Famin believes there is still room for improvement on the chassis side. He stated that while the engine is important, it is ultimately the overall performance of the car that matters.
Famin highlighted that they can work on various aspects of the car, such as integration, software, and cooling, to enhance performance. He stressed the importance of improving not only the engine but also the chassis, aerodynamics, and their understanding of the tires. Famin believes that all these elements need to come together to create a competitive car.
In addition to the Formula 1 team, Alpine also launched their world endurance program. The two cars were presented together, and Mick Schumacher, a reserve driver for Mercedes F1, joined the lineup.
