Alpine Team Faces Power Unit Challenges Amidst Promising Performance

The political sensitivities within the Alpine team’s Anglo-French composition have made the engine bay’s shortcomings a silent weakness. When asked about the performance discrepancy between Japan and Bahrain, Pierre Gasly diplomatically declined to comment on the specific factors contributing to the difference.

Performance Analysis: Car Balance vs Power Unit Performance

The reality is that the Alpine A525 has been a relatively well-balanced car, thriving in medium-speed areas but struggling with the power unit’s hybrid system running out of electrical charge on the straights. This was evident at Suzuka, where Gasly matched the pace of the front-runners through the flowing ‘S’ curves, only to lose ground between the hairpin and ‘Spoon’ corner, and again on the run to 130R.

The Jeddah track, with its limited straight sections and high-speed corners taken flat or nearly flat, could present a challenge for Alpine. However, Gasly remains optimistic about their chances, acknowledging areas where they can improve but also emphasizing the need to build on their Bahrain performance.

Track Analysis: A Mixed Bag for Alpine

The long straights of the Shanghai circuit, where neither Alpine driver troubled the top 10, brutally exposed the car’s limitations. On the other hand, the Jeddah track, with its profusion of high-speed corners and relatively few hard stops, could potentially play to ‘s strengths.

Gasly is aware of the challenges ahead but remains focused on maximizing their potential. “We know there are tracks where things could be more difficult for us,” he admitted. “But we also know what we’re fighting with, and we have to go out and fight with what we have.

Lessons from Bahrain and Looking Ahead to Miami

The team is still analyzing the lessons from the Bahrain Grand Prix, where the A525 showed promising speed despite the abrasive track surface taking its toll on the tyres and underbody aerodynamics. Alpine had performed well in the pre-season test at Bahrain but struggled to replicate that performance in the first few races.

Gasly is hopeful that they can gain a better understanding of why the car performed differently in various conditions before the Miami Grand Prix. “In a few days, it’s quite difficult to get all these answers,” he conceded. “But over the next few weeks, hopefully we can get a better understanding on why the car in these conditions worked the way it did and what didn’t favor us in the first few races.