Season results: Alpine F1 – all Formula 1 news 2023

Alpine was confidently ahead of the outsiders, but significantly behind the rest, ending the season, which was full of intrigue and scandals, in sixth place.

Alpine’s problems started last year with the loss of Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri. The reason is obvious: both, an experienced champion and a future debutant, looked at the situation from within and were looking for the best options for themselves.

Both left in scandal. Alonso, who literally the day before assured everyone of his loyalty to the Enstone team, the next day accepted Lawrence Stroll’s offer and ended up at Aston Martin, and Piastri, who was to replace him – and the press service managed to spread the word news of this, took advantage of the clause in the contract (with the help of his manager Mark Webber) and moved to McLaren.

We also said goodbye to our advisor, four-time world champion Alain Prost. He was too frank with the press and the new management: Luca de Meo, executive director of the Renault group and Laurent Rossi, executive director of Alpine Cars, did not find a common language with him.

Alonso replaced Pierre Gasly, who took over the tutelage of Dr. Marco, who became Esteban Ocon’s partner, was fed up, so the French team with a French engine had a purely French lineup. It seems like a dream for shareholders!

The season started badly. Luca de Meo insisted and publicly demanded harsh criticism of the team in May, saying it was not up to the required standard. As if something can be solved with a snap of the fingers.

They went looking for the perpetrators and shot three at the same time: team leader Otmar Szafnauer, sports director Alan Permain and engineer Pat Fry. The racing world was amazed.

Szafnauer was not allowed to work in Formula 1 until April next year. In the summer, Laurent Rossi left his position as CEO of Alpine. Now De Meo was in charge. He entrusted the duties of team leader to Bruno Famen, who actually knew no one.

De Meo told the team members that he was very unhappy that the two units, based in Britain and France, had not learned to work together coherently. He said he no longer wanted to hear of any disagreement between Enstone and Weary and demanded that mutual accusations between the divisions cease immediately.

As a result of these changes, the car did not go faster, the engine did not become more powerful, the employees were confused and the racers were demotivated. Many said that the team could be led by Mattia Binotto, who left Ferrari, which could unite everyone, but so far this has not happened. Let’s see who will present the new car at the presentation in 2024.

The most successful race for Alpine was the Monaco Grand Prix, where Ocon climbed to the podium in the rain and Gasly finished seventh. But in six stages the team earned no points at all.

The Renault power unit was the weakest last season, while the others were about the same in terms of power. Hopes for the project’s success next season are low unless the team makes extra efforts. But administrative measures, which De Meo likes so much, will not be successful.