Alonso is convincing, Alpine is not yet, but the Enstone team hopes to take a step forward and reflect the good sensations at one lap in the races. That is the weak point of the A522, its excessive tire degradation, it is not a secret that in recent races they have added downforce compared to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, where they had one of the best top speeds on the grid. With two points, the two-time Spanish champion is far from what his individual performances deserved throughout the start of 2022. Laurent Rossi, the team’s chief executive officer, agrees.
“Of course I understand, we are as frustrated as Alonso, he only has two points and could go fourth in the World Championship, he has always been there at the front. He has had very bad luck, the problems have always been on his side, but the situation will change and he will show which is, in fact, in incredible shape,” says the Alpine manager. In the garage, there is work ahead: “The atmosphere is that we keep working, we have to turn qualifying pace into a consistent pace and sustainable in the race, which we have not achieved so far. It’s a matter of adjusting the car differently. We tried a few things in practice, we learned a lot and I hope we get to a good point.”
This weekend they incorporate updates in the aerodynamics of the rear axle, related to the brakes, and in previous races they have been among the teams with the most constant innovations. In addition, Ocon already has the flat bottom that Alonso premiered in Ímola. Alpine is sixth in the constructors’ championship relatively close to the fifth, Alfa Romeo, although the top-4 train escapes with the podiums that Mercedes and McLaren have already added.