Formula 1
Alpine hopeful of fighting for Q3 at F1 season opener
Alpine is hopeful it can fight for a Q3 slot at the start of the Formula 1 season, after finally unleashing some of its full potential in testing last week.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Mar 16, 2022, 9:29 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The team had a tricky first test in Barcelona, where it was held back by not running DRS and focusing on high fuel runs.
But after finally letting its drivers go for some lower fuel efforts in Bahrain last week, the team reckons that the A522 can at least battle towards the front end of the midfield.
With Fernando Alonso having set the third quickest time on the final day with some late laps in the cooler conditions, sporting director Alan Permane say there was some positive feedback about the car's form, even though his driver wanted more.
"Fernando is still not wondrously happy, still wants to go faster, still finding problems with the car, but he is much happier, of course," explained Permane.
"He drove with very heavy fuel for a lot of the day and you'll see a jump in laptime. We put some new C3 tyres on later in the day and he said 'wow this car is fast.'
"He was really happy, and could really feel the performance. He wasn't on qualifying fuel, it was on lower fuel, but we were on full fuel before that. So he's definitely more appreciative.
"But once you start getting used to that level of grip and speed, you then start finding little small problems there.
"So the drivers are, I wouldn't say they are ecstatic, and we're not expecting to go out and put it on pole, but I'm hoping that we will be in the mix and certainly fighting for Q3."
While Alpine's Bahrain test appeared much better than its run in Barcelona, he said that there had been no major change in approach nor car parts to help turn things around – as the team fully understood what had held it back last time.
"I think I said afterwards, we weren't really stressed," he said. "The performance was there. We were happy with it. I'm not sure whether people believed that or not, but we weren't panicking.
"I think here we have shown where we are. I still don't really know the pecking order, but I know we're in the ballpark.
Read Also:
- Ferrari: F1 2022 car not a race winner just yet
- Hamilton planning to change name to include mother's surname
- F1 teams set to discuss rule tweaks to avert "mirror war"
"We're not miles off the back like we looked like we were in Barcelona. We're there or thereabouts, so it's just about getting things together.
"We haven't changed one thing or any particular setup or any new particular parts. It's just coming together."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Tweaks for 2022 could make Saudi Arabia F1 track even faster
Next article Verstappen: New F1 cars no longer "uncontrollable" following
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1 Dec 31, 2024
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1 Dec 31, 2024
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Dec 28, 2024
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Latest news
Tom Cruise interested in racing ARCA car, per NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
2 h
Tom Cruise interested in racing ARCA car, per NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
5 h
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
6 h
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 6 h
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe