Fernando Alonso, Alpine, Monza, 2022

Alpine confident for Singapore and Suzuka races after “massive” floor upgrade

2022 Italian Grand Prix

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Alpine have high hopes for the upcoming races at Singapore and Suzuka as they plan to introduce a significant upgrade to the A522’s floor at the next round.

The team’s sporting director Alan Permane is confident they will bounce back strongly from their unexpectedly poor performance at Monza, a track they expected would suit them.

“A hundred percent this is an outlier,” said Permane after the team’s second point-less race of the season last weekend. “We’ve got a new floor coming to Singapore, it’s got a massive step of downforce and we’ll be back where we should be.”

The tight street circuit, which F1 hasn’t raced on since 2019, demands maximum downforce levels. Permane believes their new package will improve their performance at that track and Suzuka, another venue which F1 will return to for the first time since the pandemic.

“We’re really looking forward to there, especially Suzuka with this car,” Permane added. “It’s going to be fun.”

He played down Esteban Ocon’s concerns that the bumpy Singapore circuit will be especially punishing for drivers in the current generation of F1 cars.

“I’m surprised he said the bouncing would be horrific because generally that’s a high-speed phenomenon and there isn’t really a lot of high speed there,” said Permane.

“I’m sure physically it will be very tough for them. It’s a long race, it’s a hot race, but it’s been like that ever since it’s been on the calendar. I don’t know whether it would be even harder.

“I guess it will be a bit harder because the cars are quite stiff. So it will be a long, physical race for them, but they’re fit guys, there’ll be okay for sure.”

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...
Claire Cottingham
Claire has worked in motorsport for much of her career, covering a broad mix of championships including Formula One, Formula E, the BTCC, British...

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12 comments on “Alpine confident for Singapore and Suzuka races after “massive” floor upgrade”

  1. Other team who are going to win 100% the next race same as Mercedes or we have to wait if the floors work!

  2. Bad move, not worth experimenting on the car at singapore .. it is a bumpy track at the best of times thanks to underground metro, sewage pipes, electricity lines etc and 3 years since last race the track is going to be super green and extra bumpy.

  3. I think Singapore will probably be Alpine’s best remaining shot at a podium this year. The races are generally unpredictable with the safety car periods and Alonso is pretty mega around this circuit. They’ll need to play their cards right though…and make sure Ocon plays a good #2 driver role instead of fighting to finish in front of Alonso like he did last year.

    1. A good #2 driver role includes binning it in Singapore to let Alonso get a win? Just saying.

      1. Well he is leaving the team and Ocon is famous to keep it quiet when something totally unexpected happens (Max-Ocon Brazil) ;)

      2. That’s the ideal teammate. For Ocon, not crashing in to Alonso would be a start.

  4. I might just be me but I’ve never seen a factory outfit lacking ambition as today’s Renault/Alpine. With Alpine I only get a feeling they’re just kind of there as a forgotten manufacturer.

    Multiple massive rule changes and in all of them haven’t made a single step forwards to the other top 3 teams in years as a factory outlet. Compare that to Ferrari who in 20 and 21 were on the same midfield level, threw all their weight in the new rules and build a competive car in the new regulations. Sure Ferrari failed miserably in many things this year but you at least get a clue an effort was made and they want to compete at the front.

    Alpine are still hanging around the midfield when with all the resources and factory backing they have, should have broken out a long time ago. I at least expect them to be somewhere in the chasm of top 3 and the rest but it never seems to get there.

    Add in the losing Alonso to a Aston Martin, the
    Piastri Mclaren debacle and that upcoming Hungary test where everyone with a helmet can participate and a PU that’s still the worst on the grid…

    What exactly is Alpine’s F1 goal cause for the life of me I can’t figure it out.

    1. It’s a bit unfair to compare Alpine’s ambition to Ferrari, considering how Ferrari have received almost a billion dollars of bonus prize money from F1 over the last 10 years simply for *being* Ferrari, whereas Alpine/Renault (having only been in F1 for about 45 years…) has received virtually none. As a result, they have been in dire financial straits in the past which has disrupted them.

      1. Renault has not been in F1 that long as a team, though, which is what matters as the teams are the participants in F1. Not drivers, engines or tire manufacturers. McLaren and Williams similarly receive heritage bonus payments. These teams are both committed for the long term (whereas Renault did not run a team between 1950 and 1976, nor between 1986 and 2001, nor between 2012 and 2015), and they are such recognizable motorsport names that their participation adds value and prestige to a series that others – including Renault – benefit from. After all, beating McLaren and Ferrari is a much bigger marketing boon than beating DAMS, Andretti, Iron Lynx or Van Amersfoort Racing. All of whom are nevertheless accomplished racing teams.

        Ferrari would also have had no issue raising the same money as they get as a heritage bonus via normal sponsorship anyway, so all it really did, and especially now with the cost cap, is make things a little easier on the department that handles sponsorships and supplier partnerships.

  5. Something about this just makes me think that Alonso and Piastri are going to regret turning down Alpine when they’re sinking in dud McLarens/Astons.

    1. Sure it’s not all hot air and toy throwing like the contract info they provided?

  6. If Alonso’s past luck is anything to go off the Alpine will be mighty as he is departing.

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