The French team has had a difficult start to the current F1 season, facing challenges with the power and weight of their car. Both drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, have struggled to perform well with the resources they have. In the Bahrain Grand Prix, Ocon and Gasly qualified in 19th and 20th place, respectively, and finished in 17th and 18th place. In Saudi Arabia, they failed to advance beyond Q1 in qualifying and did not score any points. In the Australian GP, Gasly was eliminated in Q1, while Ocon managed to reach Q2, but neither driver scored points in the race.
Despite these setbacks, Alpine’s Managing Director, Bruno Famin, remains optimistic. He acknowledged that the team’s performance in Australia was slightly better, but attributed it more to the circumstances and track conditions than to a significant improvement. Famin emphasized the team’s motivation to address their weaknesses and improve their performance both at the factory and on the track. He expressed the need to work tirelessly to improve in all aspects.
Looking ahead to the Japanese GP, Famin highlighted the team’s excitement to race at the fast and flowing Suzuka Circuit. He revealed that they are on schedule with their development plan for 2024 and will be implementing some minor updates to the A524. These updates mainly involve a new front wing and the first steps towards reducing weight.
Ocon also shared his thoughts on the upcoming race in Suzuka. He reflected on the mixed emotions of the previous race in Australia, where the car showed improved performance but lost potential points due to an extra pit stop. Ocon acknowledged the team’s hard work and efforts to bring more performance to the car. He mentioned that they will be testing some small updates during the weekend in Suzuka.
Describing Suzuka as a favorite among drivers and fans, Ocon expressed his excitement for the circuit. He praised its challenging nature, especially the fast and flowing initial sector. Ocon emphasized the precision and commitment required to excel in Suzuka, especially during qualifying. He also highlighted the circuit’s historical importance and passionate fans, making it a standout event on the F1 calendar.
With these thoughts in mind, the BWT Alpine F1 team shared their excitement for the Japanese GP on social media, greeting their followers with a friendly “Kon’nichiwa, Japan” and asking who is excited for the race.
