Alonso: ‘Up to us’ to make Alpine competitive, no excuses

Henry Valantine 23 Mar 2022 11:00 PM

Fernando Alonso in the Alpine garage. Bahrain March 2022. — Fernando Alonso has his visor open while in the Alpine garage. Bahrain March 2022.

Fernando Alonso acknowledged that now Formula 1’s new regulations have taken effect, the onus is on Alpine to get themselves further up the field.

Alonso returned to the sport last year with the specific goal of wanting to compete at the front of the pack with Alpine when the new technical rules came into play, with Formula 1’s intention being that the field would be closer together as a whole.

But the two-time World Champion had a relatively muted start to the season, with him and team-mate Esteban Ocon finishing P9 and P7 respectively in Bahrain after both Red Bulls retired late on.

Red Bull and Ferrari appear clear of the rest of the pack in terms of raw pace, but the consensus among the paddock is that the rate of development this season will be significant, given that 2022 is the first year of the sport’s most sweeping regulation changes for decades.

“I like it, Picasso!” 🎨

Also, we’re on TikTok now guys ➡️ @AlpineF1Team pic.twitter.com/35gBOr9nXB

— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) March 23, 2022

With that in mind, Alonso is aware that he and Alpine have to step up and develop quickly if they are to keep up this year.

“The rules are meant to have a closer competition and a more fair competition as well with the budget cap, so it’s up to us,” Alonso told Reuters.

“If we are fast, it’s because we did a good job. If we are not fast it’s not because we spend less or these things that happen in the past in Formula 1.

“The cars now are very new for everybody. During the year, I think it’s going to be a huge progress for everyone and we need to win that race also off track.”

Alonso is still keen to succeed in Formula 1 and, with his contract with Alpine due to expire at the end of the season, he is understandably impatient to see the A522 improve – and said everyone within the team is working hard to achieve that, with Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi having said recently that there’s a “healthy pipeline of innovation” coming from the team’s bases in Enstone and Viry.

“We are here to make those possibilities as soon as possible and try to shortcut that time in a way,” Alonso said.

“Everyone is working flat out in the car, in the engine side as well and we want to see Alpine win as soon as possible.”