F1 News: Ex-Driver Claims Alpine Set For "Tough Season" After "Firing So Many Important People"
Giancarlo Fisichella, a former F1 driver, has critiqued Alpine's performance early in the season, attributing the struggles to significant staff departures. The team's challenging start is underscored by the exit of key engineering and aerodynamics personnel.
Key Takeaways:
- Alpine is facing a difficult season ahead with the recent departures of technical director Matt Harman and head of aerodynamics Dirk de Beer.
- The team's underperformance was evident at the Bahrain Grand Prix qualifiers, with both drivers starting at the back.
- Alpine is banking on upcoming car upgrades to enhance its competitiveness this season.
Alpine Press Image
The departure of key figures from Alpine's team has cast a shadow over their 2024 campaign, marking a stark contrast to their triumphant years in the mid-2000s. Giancarlo Fisichella, reflecting on his time with the team under the Renault name, lamented the recent exits, including that of his former engineer Alan Permane, and highlighted the challenge of replacing such pivotal roles swiftly. Fisichella commented:
"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."
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The Enstone-based squad has been grappling with instability, evidenced by the resignations of Matt Harman and Dirk de Beer, who are pivotal to the team's technical and aerodynamic strategies. Their departure, set for April, follows a disappointing performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where Alpine's drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, were relegated to the back of the grid.
Alpine's turbulent phase is not just about the recent exits but also follows the departures of significant figures like Otmar Szafnauer, Alan Permance, Pat Fry, and the dismissal of CEO Laurent Rossi, despite significant investments made last year. The experience brought by Harman and de Beer, with backgrounds at Mercedes and various leading F1 teams, respectively, underscores the vacuum their exits will create.
As Alpine navigates through these testing times, the focus shifts to their strategy for recovery and performance enhancement. With the promise of car upgrades, the F1 community watches keenly to see if Alpine can overcome its current adversities and reclaim its competitive edge.
Thank you to OCB Scores for setting up this interview.