Rossi: Alpine developed ‘muscles’ in 2021

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Esteban Ocon, Alpine, in action. Abu Dhabi, December 2021.

Esteban Ocon, Alpine, in action at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. December 2021.

Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi feels that the French team “developed muscles” over the course of the 2021 campaign. 

Early in the season, it looked like the team formerly known as Renault had taken a step backwards since rebranding and would spend the year towards the bottom of the midfield pack.

That ultimately didn’t prove to be the case though with them finishing P5 in the Constructors’ Championship for the second year in the row, taking one win and one further podium.

Rossi admits things didn’t start well but says the team grew muscles after that, working hard to successfully gain a better understanding of the car they had built.

“The team developed muscles,” he said as per Auto Motor und Sport.

“We were lost at the beginning of the season. In Monaco, we had no idea. We scored points but didn’t know how. We didn’t understand the car that well.

“Later we knew what to expect.”

Alpine were one of the few teams in 2021 who had both drivers consistently performing well and maximising the potential of the machinery they were driving, with Fernando Alonso looking close to his best and Esteban Ocon much better than he was in 2020.

Getting the best out of both of them was the key to the success that the team enjoyed, says Rossi.

“The biggest improvement has come from how we work,” he added.

“First, around the drivers to get the best out of them. And second, to keep pushing the limits of the drivers. That took four to five months.

“It was about rebuilding Esteban after last season and, at the same time, letting Fernando arrive back in Formula 1.”

 

The development of his drivers isn’t the only thing he’s pleased about, with Rossi also feeling the team managed to improve both the car and the Renault power unit throughout the year.

Such progress makes him optimistic heading into the new era of the sport with widespread regulation changes coming into play.

“We have a good development in terms of the engine and a good development of the car,” he stated.

“Maybe we are not at the level of the top teams, but who knows? Our goal is in any case until the end of this rule era to win.”