Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 team driver, had a disappointing performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Team boss Bruno Famin expressed his surprise and disappointment with the team’s poor qualifying results. Despite expecting a tough start to the season due to the team’s decision to overhaul their car, Famin did not anticipate Gasly and his teammate Esteban Ocon ending up as the slowest drivers on the grid. Famin acknowledged that the team has identified areas that need improvement and has plans for upgrades in the future. Lack of traction was identified as one of the main issues with the car, especially evident in the slow corners of the Bahrain circuit.
In a tabloid format, it was announced that Technical Director Matt Harman and Aerodynamics Chief Dirk de Beer have resigned, as Alpine found themselves at the bottom of the standings. Famin, representing the Renault-owned team, stated that the disastrous start to the season confirmed the need for a change within the team, leading to these resignations. Alpine has now restructured its technical organization, adopting a three-pillar structure similar to McLaren’s approach last season when they faced their own difficulties.
Famin explained the reasoning behind this decision, emphasizing the desire to bring on-track successes to the factories. This includes shifting the mentality, encouraging creativity, and promoting a more horizontal and agile organization. The goal is to develop the talented individuals within the team and allow them to contribute their maximum potential to the project and the company as a whole.
Famin is confident that the renewed concept of the Alpine car has untapped potential, which will lead to improvements before the regulatory overhaul of 2026. When asked about the focus of these revisions, he stated that it is both short-term and future-oriented. The new car, A524, already has potential, but there is also a need to change its approach in the development and racing of the car. The knowledge and experience gained with the A524 will be invaluable in the development of the A526, the car for the 2026 season.
