The Alpine team, backed by Ryan Reynolds, is facing a challenging situation as the 2024 F1 season begins. Enstone, the team’s base, has already undergone a major shake-up.
Alpine is one of the four factory teams on the grid. The French team was reacquired by Renault in 2016 with high aspirations of competing at the front. However, Alpine has consistently failed to meet expectations, including their disappointing start to the 2024 season.
During the launch of the Alpine A524, fans were shocked by the car’s appearance. The lack of paint and excessive exposed carbon fiber indicated that the car was overweight. In qualifying, both Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly were unable to perform well, locking out the last row on the grid. They continued to struggle during the race, remaining at the tail-end of the field.
The situation did not improve for the French squad in the race. Ocon and Gasly failed to advance past Q1, and Gasly had to retire early due to a gearbox issue. Ocon also failed to score any points. These disappointing results have raised concerns at Enstone, leading to a major technical overhaul. However, time may be running out for Alpine.
Alpine took an aggressive approach with the sidepods of their car for the 2024 season. The team was confident in the new design of the A524. However, the car did not pass the FIA homologation tests for the side impact structure, creating a significant problem. The entire structure needed reinforcement, adding extra weight to the car that was not accounted for during development. As a result, the A524 is significantly heavier than the minimum weight limit, potentially costing Alpine valuable time on the track.
Following the team’s recent struggles, Alpine’s Technical Director and Aerodynamics Head decided to resign. Even legendary designer Bob Bell left Enstone to join Aston Martin. These departures were reportedly individual decisions rather than team decisions.
When Renault took control of Team Enstone in 2016, they set a five-year timeframe to become competitive. While there was progress in 2017 with the signings of Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz, the Renault team failed to make enough progress to move past the midfield in F1. Even with the addition of Daniel Ricciardo in 2019, they could not challenge the top teams. Ricciardo’s decision to leave for McLaren highlighted the team’s inability to convince him to stay.
Alpine’s performance has plateaued or declined in recent years. Despite having high ambitions, the team has only achieved one victory, courtesy of Esteban Ocon in the 2021 Hungarian GP. The upper management’s vision has not translated into tangible results. The original five-year deadline was extended to a 100-race timeframe, but the team continues to fall short of its goals.
Alpine’s VP of Motorsport and Team Principal Bruno Famin remains determined to improve the team’s position in future races. However, if the team does not show improvement, it could lead to Ocon and Gasly considering their options for the future.
Otmar Szafnauer was brought in by Alpine in 2022 but was sacked midway through 2023. Szafnauer claimed that the upper management had given him an unrealistic timeframe for success. It seems that his predictions were accurate.
Team Principal Bruno Famin had high ambitions at the end of the previous season, believing the team could become a front-runner within 100 races. However, the team’s performance at the start of this year has shocked him.
The upper management at Alpine has failed to understand the reality at Enstone, even during the days when the team was known as Renault. Ambitious deadlines were set, but they were not easily achievable. When things went wrong, the team resorted to simply sacking top officials.
In 2023, Alpine received a significant investment from a group that included Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds and NFL star Patrick Mahomes. This investment was seen as a way for Renault to develop the team without using their own funds. There has been speculation about the possibility of a sale of Alpine.
Currently, Formula 1 is a sellers’ market, as evidenced by the rejection of Andretti-Cadillac’s bid to join the grid as an eleventh team. Acquiring an existing team may be the best option for projects like Andretti to enter the sport. Renault and Andretti were even in talks for a potential power unit supply, which could open up discussions about a sale.
However, there have been no signs that Renault wants to sell the team completely. The influx of cash has provided the Enstone-based squad with the resources they need for the foreseeable future. Additionally, Ryan Reynolds has not made any comments about acquiring an existing team since his proposal was rejected. However, if Renault loses patience, a sale could be a possibility in the coming months.
After the Bahrain GP, Alpine underwent a major technical overhaul. The team will now have a three-pillared approach for its technical departments, similar to McLaren’s structure. Three different Technical Directors will oversee engineering, aerodynamics, and performance, reporting directly to Bruno Famin.
Alpine will need to make significant progress to recover from their poor start to the year. Major upgrades are planned for upcoming races, which could improve the team’s prospects. However, it may take months to resolve the issues with the A524. The 2024 season may be a write-off for Enstone.
Despite the challenges, Alpine is determined to return to the midfield pack in F1. Ocon and Gasly have expressed their support for the team during this difficult period. However, the team must plan for the long-term to remain competitive. With the 2026 rules approaching, Alpine may need to sacrifice the upcoming season for a better chance under the new regulations.
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