Pierre Gasly says that Alpine is still in a good place despite the F1 team experiencing yet another round of senior changes. The Frenchman remains upbeat about what lies ahead in 2024.
Since returning to Formula 1, Renault and now Alpine have become somewhat infamous for their frequent managerial changes.
Three team principals, a technical director, and two marquee drivers (Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri) have either departed or been fired in a the recent past.
For a team that, on paper, should be fighting at the sharp end of Formula 1, this is an unsettling trend. To make things worse, their on-track performance is steadily deteriorating.
The A524 was the slowest car on the grid in Bahrain, and it could stay that way for some time.
It goes without saying that Matt Harman’s resignation is not very encouraging for the team’s medium-term prospects.
Harman was, of course, the main architect of the French outfit’s 2024 challenger. His exit speaks volumes about his confidence in the team’s trajectory.
After all, a significant part of the team’s narrative in pre-season was about mid-season development.
Alpine has argued that the A524 is a good platform to build upon.
However, not only can this be said for most teams, but senior engineers are apparently of another opinion.
Speaking to the media in Jeddah, Pierre Gasly tried to create a more positive outlook:
“Obviously, I’ve worked with them since I joined the team, and I was pretty close with them.
“It came as a surprise. But then at the same time, I trust my team. I trust the people in charge of the management.
“I see positive changes in the team behind the scenes.
“Obviously, it doesn’t reflect yet on the race track, but I trust the people in charge.”
Teammate Esteban Ocon echoed similar rhetoric in his interview, insistent that long-term progress was still attainable.
However, for a team whose rhetoric always seems to carry quiet confidence in the future, their results fail to validate their statements.
There are clear limitations in Alpine’s management. This is hardly a new development, but the situation continues to worsen.
With Gasly and Ocon on expiring contracts, there could be yet more changes for Team Enstone.
Author: Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
