In a year where underdog stories have captivated Formula 1, Alpine's stunning turnaround to claim sixth place in the Constructors' Championship might be the most impressive of all. What seemed like a lost season turned into a story of rebirth as the team introduced what technical director David Sanchez described as “virtually a new car” in the final stretch of the season.
But the groundwork for this resurgence was laid months earlier when Sanchez joined Alpine in May and hit the reset button on the team's development strategy.
Hitting the Reset Button: A New Vision for Alpine
Sanchez's arrival from McLaren has catalyzed a fundamental change at Alpine. The team paused its upgrade pipeline to re-evaluate its overall approach. The results were transformative. A major floor upgrade was showcased in Austin, followed by a revised front wing and shortened nose in Qatar, effectively making the Alpine A524 completely different in its latest iterations.
“When I arrived, the limitations of the car were very obvious,” Sanchez said. “It was also pretty obvious how to get her out of that corner. By the end of May, we had a plan to deliver a complete upgrade package. It was a big ask, and there was some skepticism, but the team worked incredibly hard throughout the summer. »
This hard work paid off. Over the last six races, Alpine had reduced its single-lap deficit from almost 2% to just over 0.8%, firmly reestablishing itself in the mid-pack fight.
A car built on smarter data and new insights
Sanchez's influence was evident not only in the visible updates but also in Alpine's renewed approach to aerodynamic development. Drawing inspiration from his brief time at McLaren, Sanchez redefined the way Alpine used its simulation tools, more cohesively combining wind tunnel data, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and real-world telemetry.
“It's not just about chasing maximum downforce,” Sanchez explained. “If the wind tunnel says yes, but the CFD warns, you listen. You create trust between all tools to ensure that performance gains don't come with unintended consequences like porpoising. »
This modernized philosophy addressed long-standing issues. At the start of 2024, Alpine was struggling with a car that was too heavy and aerodynamically inconsistent, compounded by a monocoque failure that added extra pounds for structural reinforcement. By the end of the season, Alpine had not only resolved these issues, but also optimized the car's tuning, striking a balance between low ride heights and compliance on uneven tracks.
Pilot buy-in and long-term optimism
Pierre Gasly, who signed a long-term contract mid-season, credited the team's new management for his renewed confidence. “What you see now was discussed and developed in May,” Gasly said. “Is sixth place enough? No. But from where we started, this return seemed almost unrealistic. The understanding we now have of the car gives us optimism for 2025.”
Sanchez echoed Gasly's sentiments, highlighting a change in Alpine's setup philosophy. “We moved away from a narrow performance window,” Sanchez said. “The car now operates more predictably over a wider range of conditions, reducing its susceptibility to porpoising and improving its compliance.”
A Future Built on Momentum
Alpine's turnaround isn't just about flashy updates; it signals a deeper cultural and technical evolution. While rivals like Aston Martin have failed with outdated development strategies, Alpine's cohesive approach has put it on a more sustainable path.
“We're still mid-table, but this is the basis for something better,” Sanchez noted. The upcoming 2025 season will test Alpine's ability to convert its new direction into consistent results, but for now the team has proven it can adapt, innovate and fight.
