Alpine Faces Struggle in F1 Season 2024: Ex-Driver Giancarlo Fisichella Highlights Team’s Challenges
Alpine’s F1 team has faced a rocky start to the 2024 season, according to former driver Giancarlo Fisichella. He attributes these challenges to the loss of key personnel, casting doubt on the team’s future performance.
Key Takeaways:
- Alpine’s 2024 season is marred by significant staff departures, including technical director Matt Harman and head of aerodynamics Dirk de Beer.
- The team’s struggles were visible during the Bahrain Grand Prix qualifiers, resulting in both drivers starting from the back of the grid.
- Alpine hopes that future car upgrades will improve its performance and competitiveness during the season.
The departure of several key figures from Alpine’s team signals a challenging period for the team in the 2024 F1 season. This is a significant departure from their previous success in the mid-2000s, under the Renault banner. Former F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella, who raced for the team during these successful years, expressed his dismay at the recent departures, including his former engineer Alan Permane, and the difficulty of replacing such important roles quickly. He stated:
“It’s a shame to see Alpine have such a bad start of the season because they were the team to win the constructors and drivers championships in both in 2005 and 2006. In the middle of last year, they fired so many people in the factory with very important names like my old engineer Alan Permane. It’s not easy to find good people in such a short time and especially when it was time to rebuild the new car. That is the result and it’s gonna be a tough season, I think.”
Alpine, based in Enstone, is dealing with instability, further aggravated by the resignations of Matt Harman and Dirk de Beer, crucial for the team’s technical and aerodynamic strategies. Their departure is slated for April, after a disheartening performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly were pushed to the back of the grid.
The turmoil at Alpine isn’t limited to recent exits. It also includes the departures of key figures like Otmar Szafnauer, Alan Permane, Pat Fry, and the dismissal of CEO Laurent Rossi. These changes occurred despite significant investments made in the previous year. The expertise brought by Harman and de Beer, with their experience in leading F1 teams, particularly highlights the gap their departures will leave.
As Alpine navigates these turbulent waters, all eyes are on their strategy to bounce back and improve performance. With upcoming car upgrades, the F1 community is eager to see if Alpine can surmount its current challenges and return to its former competitive form.
