Mark Hughes on the new AlphaTauri AT04

On Sunday evening the AlphaTauri team unveiled a new livery for the 2023 car, but even the digital images of the AT04 allow us to make some assumptions about what the new Faenza-made chassis will look like in reality . These topics are discussed by Mark Hughes, an expert at The Race…

Judging by the digital images of AlphaTauri AT04, the new car looks almost no different from last year, but it seems that the difference is still there – and very significant.

Looking at the photos taken by the computer, it is simply impossible to say anything for sure, but in profile it seems that the front axle of the new car has moved forward. If this is indeed the case, it can be assumed that last year the wheelbase of the AT03 was less than the maximum allowed by the regulations.

Why is this an important point? Because that’s what Jody Egginton, the technical director of the team, emphasized when speaking in general about the weaknesses of last year’s car, for which, as it turned out, it was extremely difficult to select the optimal settings.

It was extremely difficult for the AlphaTauri engineers and drivers to achieve stable equilibrium in the corner entry to corner exit phase – however, this was not such an uncommon problem last year as aerodynamics of the cars then changed significantly. But working with the AT03 settings was especially difficult, often frustrating Pierre Gasly.

Speaking of the new AT04, Egginton said: “It is in our interest to move the front suspension forward. This is a key factor influencing aerodynamic efficiency… The limited budget literally forces us to look for areas where we can add the most (at a reasonable cost), and at the same time it is extremely important to make changes to all structural parts of the chassis on which the aerodynamics depend most.

Since the location of the intakes of the radiator ducts and floor elements in relation to the cockpit does not seem to have changed, it is logical to assume that the distance between the beginning of the venturi tunnels on the underside and the front axle can only be increased with the move the front axle forward.

The digital images show that the distance between the front axle and the cockpit has increased slightly. In theory, if the airflow around the front wheels travels a greater distance to the entrances to the Venturi tunnels, it becomes more even – accordingly, the air is directed more stably to the bottom. Which, in turn, provides more efficient operation of the car’s aerodynamic body kit when passing through different phases of the turn, as well as when cornering at different speeds.

It is possible that this will be a key factor allowing AlphaTauri to achieve better results as the team’s form left much to be desired in 2022. I wonder if she will be able to get back to the level she was at in 2020, when the speed of the car allowed her to argue even with top teams?