Alpine F1 team handed SHOCK verdict as 'slowest' team after testing

Haas, Alpine, livery, 2024, social — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News & Gossip

F1 team handed SHOCK verdict as 'slowest' team after testing

Alpine could be the slowest of all F1 teams in 2024

Originally written by Shay Rogers. This version is a translation.

Wednesday 28 February 2024 03:57

Alpine have been named as perhaps the slowest team on the grid, coming into the season opener this week in bahrain.

Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly appeared to struggle somewhat with their 2024 car at pre-season testing, with concerns arising about their pace before the car had even his the track.

New team principal Bruno Famin has plenty of work ahead of him to lead the factory team’s charge back through the field – with heavy investment creating the expectation for better results than they are delivering.

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An extra worry will be the expiring contracts of both of their French drivers at the end of 2024 and plenty of opportunities elsewhere on the F1 grid opening up.

Esteban Ocon drives the Alpine A524 in Bahrain

Esteban Ocon's contract expires in 2024 and a renewal could depend on Alpine's form

Are Alpine the slowest team?

According to German outlet Auto Motor und Sport, experts have decided that they may be the new backmarkers of the pack.

“The car is overweight, aerodynamically inefficient, slow on one lap and in endurance running. In this form, the French racing team is the first takeover candidate.

“No factory team can afford to be at the back of the field all the time. High-ranking engineers are said to be on the verge of leaving.”

The team have a matter of days to find some solutions to their problems before the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

If they continue to languish at the back, changes could be made as the French team to find answers for their poor performance.

Alpine Esteban Ocon Pierre Gasly Bruno Famin