Formula 1 and Racing in general is a cut-throat business. Often the sport leaves you before you leave the sport. It doesn’t matter if you are a Driver, Engineer, Crew Chief, or in this particular case an Engine Manufacturer. Alpine’s parent company and engine supplier Renault has been making headlines for the last 24 hours making major moves in an attempt to move the team forward. Alpine’s Team Principal Bruno Famin has announced he will step down after the Belgium Grand Prix.
Formula 1 Back Markers
Alpine has been back markers and punchlines of Formula 1 fans for a couple of years. Alpine has scored just nine points so far this year only ahead of Williams with four points and Sauber with zero. The fall of Alpine has been unexpected given their line of two drivers destined to break through. Last season Alpine scored 120 points a distance sixth and in 2022 finished fourth in the standings.
Alpine is set to make yet another change at Team Principal, Otmar Szafnauer left the team at the same time in 2023 and one year later, and now Bruno Famin. Formula One is no different than a stick and ball sport, a constant change in leadership always leads to turmoil and Alpine continues to show they are just as incompetent as the Las Vegas Raiders or the Oakland Athletics.
Lots of Holes to Fill
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Alpine now has to figure out a second driver to pair with Pierre Gasly after the departure of Esteban Ocon at the end of the year, a Team Principal, and likely an engine supplier. The Formula 1 world is waiting on bated breath to see what happens with the hottest free agent Carlos Sainz. If Alpine can not land the Spaniard then they will likely promote from within and bring Jack Doohan.
The Team Principal role will be filled during the summer break after the Belgium Grand Prix. The leader for the role is Formula 2’s Hitech Team Principal Oliver Oaks. Oaks has helped Hitech expand to multiple Formula racing series. He is held in high regard by many in the paddock. The last is the potential change in the engine supplier. Renault has been the weakest engine in Formula 1, being outpaced by Mercedes, Ferrari, and now Red Bull Engines. Alpine is mainly considering Ferrari and Mercedes engines, however, the rumors are swirling that General Motors may throw their hat in the ring to become an engine supplier in Formula 1.
Alpine Blunders
Alpine at one time was set to have a stellar driver lineup with Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, and the reserve driver Oscar Piastri. However, McLaren was able to steal Piastri and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. Since the departure of Piastri and Alonso, Piastri has scored one win, five podiums, and scored 246 points. Alonso eight podiums, and scored 251 points while Alpine has scored 130 points and two podiums.
Alpine has also as mentioned earlier played musical chairs with the top decision maker in the factory with the Team Principal, unlike stick and ball sports when you change the Team Principal the entire direction can change from research and development, upgrades, and the driver lineup.
Rebuilding a Formula 1 team isn’t an easy task, the process normally takes years. It has taken Mercedes over two years to get back to being a top-tier team, and Mercedes has two of the top drivers in Formula 1. Alpine does not have that luxury of that as well as the stability Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff provides. Unless Alpine has a serious change in philosophy Alpine will never sniff being a top-tier team.
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