Alpine’s “out of sync” development could yield late-season gains

Oliver Oakes believes that Alpine can show more performance at the end of the current Formula 1 season because it is out of sync with its rivals in terms of development.

The French manufacturer has struggled for form in 2024 and had a miserable opening to the campaign as several senior design staff left.

Although fortunes have improved since then, with Oakes becoming team boss in the summer to replace Bruno Famin, reliability issues have limited Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon to just 13 points.

While a major step forward is yet to be taken with Alpine languishing in ninth place in the constructors’ standings, Oakes has suggested that previous delays in Alpine’s development cycle will mean late performance improvements could be found this season.

Ocon will leave for Haas next season, with Pierre Gasly being joined by Jack Doohan in 2025.

Oakes emphasized that there are “never any concerns” about the motivation of his drivers and is confident they will “expect some (extra) performance” thanks to upgrades.

“Obviously they’re getting frustrated, just like I am,” Oakes noted. “You don’t want to sail around on Sunday without something to fight for.

Oliver Oakes, team principal of the Alpine F1 team

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

“We know there are a number of achievements coming between now and the end of the year.

“After Spa and Zandvoort you hope you can survive; this series of races was about what you had. But I think what you’re seeing is actually a little out of line.

“We were late with what we brought at the beginning of the season and then you get a little out of step when others have brought stuff.

“I hope that between now and the end of the year we can at least show that we still have some achievements to make.”

Asked whether the potential of the updates could be realised, Oakes added: “Some people have made great strides this year, others have brought some that haven’t worked.

“We just have to see how it performs when we bring it.

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“I don’t think it’s as simple as a number of what you hope to bring. Ultimately it must also translate to the circuit.

“I do think it’s quite tight in that battle there in the middle and you see it fluctuating, so it’s quite interesting that one weekend happens to the next, even between drivers at the front who are actually in the same car and the same teams.

“As a neutral, it’s quite interesting to see how much that changes from job to job and also, dare I say, in the battles that we fight.”