2021 Alpine F1 Team

[RedNEO]

Another AMuS article about Alpine: https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/for ... onso-ocon/

interesting parts:
- No car made such a jump between Austria 1 and 2, although their last upgrade was in France
- Only thing they changed was brake cooling, they were too conservative in Austria 1 (quote Permane)
- Less brake cooling improved downforce at the rear a bit, ALO immediately comfirmed this on the team radio (also quote Permane)
- But engineers don't understand the big improvement in time, also not why OCO was 1 sec slower than ALO
- Engineers believe that the car is a good one but very tricky to set up for the right window and this is changing with every tyre compound.
- Car is not good when heavy braking is needed (and much brake cooling), better in fluid tracks
- However car won't be a winning car even if they find the holy grail all the time
- ALO: things won't change in 2nd half of the season, but they need to finetune the procedures for 2022.

Credit to blacky from autosport for translation

Good read, thanks again for that...

Especially interesting was that the decreasing of the front brake cooling(ducts size) got them more rear DF. kind of explains some of the playing around with the height of the front wing.

This is all good training for next year. Knowing how to make the car faster on the fly without updates with such a massive improvement is always good to see.

[RedNEO]

Here is a good one too! Answers some of the questions we saw last week ...

https://www.grandprix.com/news/struggli ... owski.html

In truth, though, Alpine is already much more focused on 2022.

"The 2022 car is getting a lot of attention," Budkowski confirmed. "We are still doing some small parts, but the work in the wind tunnel has been completely turned towards next year's project."

Very good article, Budkowski is very sensible and measured in his analysis, Alpine is lucky to have him. It’s like we suspected, Alpine is taking full advantage of having more time on CFD/tunnel than there rivals ahead.

The rear wing saga was annoying seeing how Mercedes/Toto easily manipulated the FIA to change flexing on rear wings when the front wings have more effect and the FIA has done diddly squat about them and cost teams minding there own business time and money and Mercedes doesn’t get any repercussions.

[PhillipM]

The rear wing saga was annoying seeing how Mercedes/Toto easily manipulated the FIA to change flexing on rear wings when the front wings have more effect and the FIA has done diddly squat about them

Front wing flex does almost nothing compared to the rear.

[RedNEO]

The rear wing saga was annoying seeing how Mercedes/Toto easily manipulated the FIA to change flexing on rear wings when the front wings have more effect and the FIA has done diddly squat about them

Front wing flex does almost nothing compared to the rear.

Front wing literally influences all the aero downwards so saying it does nothing compared to the rear wing is ridiculous!

[PhillipM]

The front wing shapes the aero, the huge majority of the drag from the front wing is setting up the inboard and outboard vortexes, that barely changes even with the wing flexing, does it reduce drag? Sure, but by very little compared to a flexing rear wing.

[ralphster7]

So far they're right around expectations.

Expectations have been tempered because everyone assumes that their resources are dedicated towards next year. But Im wouldn't be very optimistic about 2022 either for a few reasons:

1. Mclaren, which is a similar sized team, has shown consistent progress since the joining of Andreas Seidl and left Renault/Alpine behind by miles. I doubt they're heavily sacrificing their future development either.

2. Ricciardo leaving a works team after having close experience with the setup for 2 seasons.

3. I wont claim to be an expert on F1 staff credentials or salaries but Dirk De Beer's resume is not very impressive as an aerodynamicist despite vast experience and based on past performance, relying on him to lead the team into a new era of aero regulations seems like a low percentage (cheap) gamble.

Dirk de Beer does have a pretty impressive resume being Head of Aero at Enstone from 2008-2013 producing great cars aerodynamically. In all fairness Lotus did have 3 most senior Aero guys who are now at Mercedes (Allison, Elliott, Murphy) but I think that De Beer was highly rated within the team. He hasn't actually properly designed the aero on one of the Alpine's as he came in December 2019 by which point the aero on the 2020 car had finished. If anything Ferrari's new Head of Aero Diego Tondi has the least impressive resume out of all Head of Aero's on the grid.

Mercedes-Jarrod Murphy ex Lotus Renault Head of CFD (2006-2013)
Red Bull-Dan Fallows moving to AM to become Technical Director
McLaren-Tony Salter Deputy Head of Aero at Sauber (2011-14) when they produced impressive cars on low budget
Ferrari-Diego Tondi Remained at Ferrari has whole career
Aston Martin-Simon Phillips Long time employee (1996-) who again has produced impressive cars on low budget
Alfa Romeo-Alex Cinelli ex Ferrari (2002-2017) in which he was head of aero performance, imperial graduate
Williams-Dave Wheater ex Deputy Head of Aero Lotus Renault (2006-2013)

[diffuser]

So is it now 6 to 4 in quali for number 14 ? He's not getting older, he's getting better!

[diffuser]

SO it's 17 laps tomorrow ? I don't think you can make that distance on soft tires. Looking at last year's race they pitted on lap 13 with arguably more DF. Not sure if there was an accident or something.

[Zynerji]

SO it's 17 laps tomorrow ? I don't think you can make that distance on soft tires. Looking at last year's race they pitted on lap 13 with arguably more DF. Not sure if there was an accident or something.

Fresh tyres this year instead of Q2 tyres last year.

[Chanman141]

SO it's 17 laps tomorrow ? I don't think you can make that distance on soft tires. Looking at last year's race they pitted on lap 13 with arguably more DF. Not sure if there was an accident or something.

Fresh tyres this year instead of Q2 tyres last year.

Less fuel too I'm presuming

[RedNEO]

So is it now 6 to 4 in quali for number 14 ? He's not getting older, he's getting better!

Like fine wine.

[RedNEO]

Nando and Lando helmet swap

[max_speed]

I am speechless. ALONSO starts 7th. He was rockstar of sprint. Mclarens were just too fast for him ( just superior car) .this guy is getting young by everyday

[Morteza]

I am speechless. ALONSO starts 7th. He was rockstar of sprint. Mclarens were just too fast for him ( just superior car) .this guy is getting young by everyday

He was brilliant
The way he was defending was a joy to behold

[RedNEO]

Alonso is the 11th to 5th in half a lap overtaking much faster cars in Red Bull and McLaren. Please Alpine deliver him a car in 2022 I beg you.