Alpine reveal scale of Alonso engine problems
Alpine reveal scale of Alonso engine problems
Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer has claimed the team "will manage" Fernando Alonso's power unit problems despite the Spaniard having used three in as many race weekends.
As has been the case for a number of years now, F1 teams are severely limited as to the number of power unit components that can be used across a season.
In the case of the internal combustion engine [ICE], turbocharger [TC], motor generator unit - heat [MGU-H] and motor generator unit - kinetic [MGU-K], teams must complete the season using just three of each component.
After a number of problems already, Szafnauer revealed Alonso to be down one ICE already, meaning grid penalties are almost certain to follow later in the year.
After joking, "Don't worry, it won't be 23 in 23," Szafnauer explained: "One of those three is back in the pool.
"It was just a precautionary change for us to test some things on the dyno and it tested okay, so that engine will be used again.
"The other one, unfortunately, where the water pump broke, though the water pump isn't part of the ICE, you can change it, but when it broke it overheated the ICE so that one is gone. We will be ok, we will manage."
Alpine cooling based on DRS plan
F1 cars are run to the limit with very fine margins for error and one example of this comes with cooling.
In Australia, Alonso had looked set to secure an elevated grid slot but after his crash in Q3, the Spaniard was relegated firmly into the midfield, something that had not been factored in when setting the cooling package.
"Had he been at the front, he wouldn't have been in trouble," said Szafnauer.
"I think that is the right thing to do. If you plan for the DRS train and have your cooling package that way, you add too much drag.
"So the right thing to do is be competitive and if that happens [overheatring], lift and coast but move out, that is the right thing to do."
Daily poll
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Haas announce Hulkenberg EXIT as F1 star's new team confirmed
- 1 hour ago
F1 News Today: Red Bull star set to QUIT team as F1 driver role CONFIRMED for 2025
- 9 minutes ago
F1 team set to axe BOTH star drivers
- 42 minutes ago
Red Bull to lose F1 MVP as true cost of Horner saga hits
- 2 hours ago
F1 pundit reveals the thing about Wolff that ANNOYS Horner
- 3 hours ago
Newey exit DATE revealed as Red Bull F1 chief set to leave
- Today 08:27
Related news
F1 boss delivers team SALE verdict with new targets set
F1 pundit slams 'EMBARRASSING' team and predicts driver exodus
F1 team announce shock RESIGNATION of two key figures
F1 team boss issues BRUTAL put down for star driver
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860