Alpine F1 News: Team Chief Speaks Out On Performance Struggles - ‘We Must Do More’

Alpine F1 accelerates its recovery strategy with an early car upgrade for Esteban Ocon.

Oct 21, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; BWT Alpine F1 driver Pierre Gasly (10) of Team France drives / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Alpine F1's team principal Bruno Famin highlighted the urgent need for enhanced performance following a lackluster start to the 2024 season, ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. The French team has expedited a significant car upgrade in a bid to turn their fortunes around.

Key Takeaways:

• Alpine F1 has accelerated the deployment of a new floor design, initially slated for the Miami Grand Prix, to this weekend’s race in Shanghai, with Esteban Ocon set to be the first to benefit.
• Despite the updates introduced at the Japanese Grand Prix, both Ocon and his teammate Pierre Gasly have struggled, with the team yet to secure any points this season.
• Famin emphasized the critical need to boost the car's performance to compete more effectively and climb from the bottom of the constructors' championship standings.

Alpine F1 finds itself grappling with significant challenges as the 2024 Formula One season progresses. The team, which has not yet managed to score a single point, remains rooted at the bottom of the constructors' championship. In a determined effort to reverse their fortunes, Alpine has introduced a fast-tracked upgrade to their vehicle, bringing a new floor design to the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix – a full race earlier than originally planned.

Esteban Ocon, who has consistently outperformed his teammate Pierre Gasly in the qualifying sessions, will be the first to test the new upgrade. Despite his superior qualifying performance, where he managed to reach Q2 in two of the first four races of the season, both drivers have faced difficulties in translating their efforts into points.

Bruno Famin, the Alpine team principal, has openly acknowledged the team’s dire situation. He commented, as quoted by Crash.net:

“The last race in Japan underlined how big a challenge we have on our hands to improve our performance level.

“We must develop the performance of the car in order to fight for higher positions. The level must be raised across all areas so we can get ourselves out of this difficult moment.

“While it was good to bring the first updates to the car in Suzuka, we must do more. The team has been working extremely hard and we have been able to bring an upgrade to one car this weekend, one race earlier than planned.”

Famin further added, "While it was good to bring the first updates to the car in Suzuka, we must do more. The team has been working extremely hard and we have been able to bring an upgrade to one car this weekend, one race earlier than planned."