Alpine F1: Huge Upgrades Could See A 6-Tenths Performance Leap

Alpine aims to rise through the F1 ranks with their ambitious development plan, despite setbacks from the Australian GP.

Alpine has set its sights on joining the ranks of the current leading F1 contenders such as Aston Martin, Mercedes, and Ferrari, and with an ambitious development plan in place, the team is optimistic about making significant strides for the upcoming race in Baku thanks to a number of upgrades they're currently testing. 

Like last year, the French team is looking to outpace its competition via speedy development throughout this season, and their current expected gain is a humungous 6-tenths if their wind tunnel results are correct.

Alpine's Secret Weapon: A Strong Development Strategy

In the previous season, Alpine's real strength lay in their consistent rate of development, which allowed them to finish fourth in the Constructor Standings last year. According to Auto Motor und Sport, the Enstone-based team is once again confident in their rate of development, with an upgrade package on the way indicative of a 6-tenth gain over the current car. 

The A523 will receive its first upgrade package in Baku, while the second will be planned for Imola. 

The Potential for a Six-Tenths Gain and the Battle Ahead

Gaining six-tenths overall would significantly boost Alpine's chances of competing with Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Ferrari, just behind Red Bull. However, Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer acknowledges that their rivals' development pace plays a crucial role in determining the outcome, even though he remains confident about Alpine's ability to keep up.

"It's a game of dependencies, unfortunately," the team boss said. "But we think we can at least keep up with the development pace of Ferrari, Mercedes, and Aston Martin."

The Impact of the Albert Park Incident on Alpine's Grand Plan

Despite their promising development plan, Alpine faces a potential threat due to the damage both cars sustained when teammates Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon collided during the Australian GP. Unsurprisingly, this resulted in an unexpected expense for the team.

Szafnauer acknowledged the financial burden of the Albert Park crash, but remained optimistic. 

"It's not yet a problem for the cost cap, even though the accident cost us dearly," he said. "But the accident has shifted the priorities. For now, we need spare parts for Baku.

"You don’t just rebuild things like a front wing in a fortnight. We still have to check whether that has an influence on whether we can bring our development package to its full extent."

As Alpine gears up for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit, they currently stand in sixth place in the Constructors' Championship, trailing their 2022 rivals, trailing behind McLaren after the double DNF in Melbourne.