Alpine A526

A place to discuss the characteristics of the cars in Formula One, both current as well as historical. Laptimes, driver worshipping and team chatter do not belong here.
michl420
michl420
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Joined: 18 Apr 2010, 17:08
Location: Austria

Re: Alpine A526

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Gridlock wrote:
01 May 2026, 19:23
I thought Ferrari had a unique advantage here because of the "bodywork within 75mm of the driveshaft line" (iirc) rule?
Me too, but it looks now the others had just overlooked it and for some teams it is randomly better to implement (alpin) and for some others not so good (mclaren), and maybe for some it is impossible.

Brahmal
Brahmal
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Joined: 19 Oct 2024, 05:07

Re: Alpine A526

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It appears Alpine have reverted to a traditional DRS opening style, I wonder if that has to do with the exhaust flap?

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AR3-GP
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Joined: 06 Jul 2021, 01:22

Re: Alpine A526

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Gridlock wrote:
01 May 2026, 19:23
I thought Ferrari had a unique advantage here because of the "bodywork within 75mm of the driveshaft line" (iirc) rule?
In my opinion what most of the non-Ferrari teams have done is superficial. Ferrari's "trick" is really the position of the trailing edge of the diffuser relative to flip ups. Since their differential is so far back, their flick ups could be connected to the trailing edge of the diffuser to make one long continuous diffuser surface.

The other teams have mounted the flip ups but they are not attached to the diffuser. They are limited in how far back they can be placed.
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Brahmal
Brahmal
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Joined: 19 Oct 2024, 05:07

Re: Alpine A526

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Image

Image

I believe they have reverted the rear-wing opening style back to a traditional DRS style instead of the lay-flat, but can't find pictures. I think this is related to the exhaust flap airflow.

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AR3-GP
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Joined: 06 Jul 2021, 01:22

Re: Alpine A526

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Brahmal wrote:
03 May 2026, 15:48
https://ibb.co/JjJ5tjFM

https://ibb.co/LXm57MHK

I believe they have reverted the rear-wing opening style back to a traditional DRS style instead of the lay-flat, but can't find pictures. I think this is related to the exhaust flap airflow.
I'm convinced that I saw the lay back design during qualifying and/or the sprint.
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AR3-GP
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Joined: 06 Jul 2021, 01:22

Re: Alpine A526

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Brahmal wrote:
03 May 2026, 15:48
https://ibb.co/JjJ5tjFM

https://ibb.co/LXm57MHK

I believe they have reverted the rear-wing opening style back to a traditional DRS style instead of the lay-flat, but can't find pictures. I think this is related to the exhaust flap airflow.

It has been suggested by a second hand source that Colapinto has the old wing and Gasly has the new one. That would clear up the discrepancy with what I saw on tv.
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Brahmal
Brahmal
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Joined: 19 Oct 2024, 05:07

Re: Alpine A526

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AR3-GP wrote:
03 May 2026, 17:16
It has been suggested by a second hand source that Colapinto has the old wing and Gasly has the new one. That would clear up the discrepancy with what I saw on tv.
Makes sense, it was specifically Gasly's car during FP1 that I saw with the normal opening style. Shame, I really liked the lay-flat wing. I suppose whenever Audi can cook up their version of blown exhaust it'll go extinct.