After the Alpine shame: The first steps out of trouble / System 1

No one can stand this: The performance of the Alpine team in the first part of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship is a disaster: The Blues, the F1 leader of the Renault Group, are last in the World Championship without points, GP winners Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly had his hands full with a stubborn car more than two parts of 13 were impossible. In addition, the team cannot relax when it comes to personnel. Many long-time employees have left or been removed from their positions.

Ocon, eighth in the 2017 and 2022 World Cups, had an idea during the winter about what was about to happen. In the paddock of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the 27-year-old said: “When we drove the 2024 car around in the simulator, we realized that we had a lot of hard work ahead of us.”

“A racing car has to be perfect in all aspects. But we will only get there step by step. We have a plan and development parts that we will bring to the car during the season. And we hope they will take us forward. But it is clear to everyone here – it will not happen overnight.

The first step will be taken on the weekend of the Japan Grand Prix (April 7). Team boss Bruno Famin: “We are making the first improvements to the car in Suzuka. The car will be lighter and there will be a new front wing.”

“In Australia we were more competitive than in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. But that may also have something to do with the quality of the pistes in Melbourne.

The Blues actually compete as Blues in the traditional Japanese GP: the first pink livery in front of main sponsor BWT will be used again later in the season.

Australien-GP, Albert Park Circuit

01. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, 1:20:26.843 h
02. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +2,366 sec
03. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +5.904
04. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +35,770
05. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +56,309
06. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +1:33,222
07. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, +1:35,601
08. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +1:40.992*
09. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1:44.553
10. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1 Lap
11. Alex Albon (T), Williams, +1
12. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bull, +1
13. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +1
14. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Sauber, +1
15. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, +1
16. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1
outside
George Russell (GB), Mercedes, accident
Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, engine failure
Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, Bremsdefekt

*20 second time penalty for braking in the fight with George Russell
Entry waived: Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams
(Alex Albon crash in free practice, no replacement chassis in Australia)

World Championship Standings (after 3 out of 24 Grands Prix)

the driver
01. Verstappen 51 points
02. Leclerc 47
03. Perez 46
04. Sainz 40
05. Plate 28
06. Norris 27
07. Russell 18
08. Alonso 16
09. Walk 9
10. Hamilton 8
11. Tsunoda 6
12. Oliver Bearman (GB) 6
13. Hulkenberg 3
14. Magnussen 1
15. Alboni 0
16. Zhou 0
17. Ricciardo 0
18. Okon 0
19. 0 gas
20. Bota 0
21. Sergeant 0

Builders Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 97 Punkte
02. Ferrari 93
03. McLaren 55
04. Mercedes 26
05. Aston Martin 25
06. Running Bull 6
07. Especially 4
08. Williams 0
09. Sauber 0
10. Alpine 0