Alpine has unveiled the A524 2024 Formula 1 vehicle, which aims to rejuvenate Renault’s struggling works program. The limitations of the car and its engine shortfall made Alpine’s 2023 contender inconsistent and only a sporadic annoyance to the top teams in F1. As a result, significant changes were made to the management team, with the CEO, team principal, and long-serving sporting director being replaced throughout the year. Under the leadership of Bruno Famin, who has been appointed as the permanent team principal after serving on an interim basis last year, Alpine is relying on the A524 to rectify the course of their F1 car. The car was launched at Alpine’s Enstone headquarters alongside its Hypercar challenger for the World Endurance Championship. In a first for the 2024 launch season, the real car that will be used for a shakedown in Bahrain on February 20 was also presented, along with renders. The A524 features a dark livery with a black base, and the predominantly blue accents will be replaced by pink at eight races this year to give more visibility to title sponsor BWT. Unlike the team’s previous designs, which incorporated blue and pink elements, Alpine has opted for a more minimalist approach with bare carbon to reduce weight. Although the car presented at the launch was said to be the real thing, it remains to be seen if any changes will be made before testing begins. Alpine describes the A524 as “completely revised” with an “aggressive design philosophy” that aims to maximize its potential for the remaining two years of the current ruleset. However, aerodynamically, it bears similarities to its predecessor, the A523. Notable changes include an enhanced undercut, a less bulky sidepod, and a slightly increased airbox area, suggesting a repositioning of the cooling system. Technical director Matt Harman has highlighted a lighter chassis, new rear suspension, optimized front suspension, a new heat rejection system, and improved brake thermal management as key differences. The most significant visible change is the redesigned rear suspension, which has been relocated to improve entry rotation and through-corner balance, addressing the main weaknesses of the 2023 Alpine car. While the engine, which was around 15bhp behind the best last year, cannot be significantly improved due to the current engine freeze in F1, Alpine may make slight adjustments to car/engine compromises to manage the deficit. A lighter chassis and a more aggressive approach to engine use, running it harder at each event, may also be employed, even if it means incurring more grid penalties. However, a major improvement in engine performance is not anticipated, as the focus is on the 2026 engine project at Viry to eliminate the hybrid era deficit. Therefore, the A524 carries the weight of expectations to make a substantial leap forward from its predecessor and compensate for the inherent performance deficit.
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