With two races already complete and a third Formula 1 Grand Prix about to begin shortly in Australia, the brand new Formula 1 season has already picked pace and is yielding some noteworthy observations on the track.
And while it’s true that usual frontrunners Red Bull have wasted little time whatsoever to utterly dominate the remainder of the grid given Verstappen and Perez’s strong form, the likes of Ferrari clearly seem to be somehwere in the mix.
Even as both the Grands Prix were clinched by Red Bull and to speak specifically, then by the marauding Max Verstappen, a Ferrari driver picking a podium both at Sakhir and Jeddah was a considerably positive sight for the Maranello outfit.
Sainz opened his campaign with a P3 at Bahrain, meanwhile Leclerc bounced back at Saudi Arabia, also clinching a third.
However, speaking of positive signs and improved performances, there hasn’t been much to note about a certain Alpine Formula 1 team who, at present, seem besieged by all sorts of troubles.
No random speak this!
In the two races that have been held thus far, both Alpine drivers have failed to collect any points whatsoever.
In the season opener, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon emerged with a P18 and P17, respectively. However, in the very next race at the high-speed street track of Jeddah, Gasly and Ocon managed a DNF, and P13, respectively.
A lack of speed and the inability to hold onto pace, whether one talks about the cornering speed or the straights have, thus far, been the biggest weaknesses of the present-day Alpine machine.
However, that’s not all.
The A 524 is being dubbed overweight for the ongoing 2024 season; one aspect that may be hampering its on track performance considerably.
Even as there are no conclusive reports available at this point, it has been mentioned on multiple occasions already that the car is somewhere around 15 kgs overweight than what is ideal. Moreover, the excess weight of the A 524 is being pegged to carrying out last minute modifications that were necessary in alignment to the crash test specifications.
The other big problem, however, is the power deficit that the machine is contending with. To elaborate the point, it is pertinent to note that the engine of the Alpine A 524 is significantly down on power especially when compared to its midfield rivals, notably- Alfa Romeo and Kick Sauber.
There is, according to estimates, a 15-30 horsepower gap with the current machine in comparison to other midfielders.
Having said that, the former technical director of the racing team (engineering), Mr. Matt Harman is positive about the things to follow, alluding to the fact that a clear plan of action has already been decided by Alpine in order to fight back. This, however, specifically includes bringing the car back to the 798 kg weight limit.
Anything more, as evident as present, will likely be detrimental to the team’s performance in the active season.
“We know exactly where the weight (excess) is and how to take it out,” he would emphasise before highlighting the most critical correctional measure as planned, “within a very short period of time, we will be back at the weight limit.”
However, the two men at the midst of the pulsating action would be truly raring to go especially given the fact that both Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly were able to clinch a podium apiece last year.
While Ocon aced the constricting venue of Monaco in taking a P3, Gasly placed his machine on the podium at the challenging and spine bending Zandvoort.
The sooner their car’s woes are addressed with existing issues efficiently neutralised, the two would gear up to give it a real go. The French pairing, after all, is redoubtably talented.