MIAMI — Alpine’s 2024 F1 season did not get off to an ideal start.
However, the team showed signs of life at the Chinese Grand Prix. Alpine brought an upgraded floor for Esteban Ocon’s A524 to Shanghai, and both Ocon and Pierre Gasly advanced to Q2, marking the first time this season that both Alpine drivers were knocked out of Q1.
Currently here in Miami, the team is installing its new floor on Gasly’s A524, and both drivers think they can take another step forward this weekend.
“Yes, it delivered what we expected. A step in the right direction,” Gasly told the media. SB Nation, on Thursday. “Obviously we still have a lot of work to do to catch up with the group in front of us.
“We felt like we were on the back foot in the first four races, but now we feel like we are in a position to race a little bit more. We need to find a lot of performance.”
Ocon, who raced the upgraded A524 in China, explains how the car was better in terms of weight, which had been an issue for the team after pre-season testing, and how it improved performance. did.
“I think it was obviously better with the weight. We obviously had a better performance. Obviously, it was a small step in the right direction,” Ocon said. “It’s very clear, but we know it’s still not enough.
“We are now able to fight the other cars a little more closely, but we are still lacking a decent performance in qualifying. And it is still something we have to work on and focus on the overall performance of the car. However, I think I’ve gradually been able to fight harder and get closer to other cars, but I need to work harder from now on.
Gasly outlined that while the team may have had a difficult start with the A524, what matters now is how much they can learn about the car each week and how quickly they can turn things around. We are seeing progress at Alpine, although the lap times don’t always show it at the moment.
“Some years you get it right, some years you get it wrong,” Guthrie said. “And I think the most important thing is how we can react to it.
“So, I understand that it will take some time, but [we] “We don’t expect big changes in a very short period of time, but we feel like we have enough data to really identify what’s working and what’s not,” Guthrie added. “And at the end of the day, I know it takes time, but it’s important to react beyond what you’ve got at the moment. You can easily measure your last time, so if you’re not competitive enough, do not have”
“I think the team is progressing in a lot of different areas.”
Gasly will record his first lap time in the upgraded A524 on Friday during qualifying for the F1 sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix.
