Alpine boss Oliver Oakes believes the team can make some late-season progress in 2024 due to an “out-of-sync” development strategy compared to Formula 1 rivals.
The Enstone-based squad anticipated a sluggish opening to the campaign as it opted to overhaul its car concept having hit a competitive ceiling with its predecessor.
However, Alpine struggled more than expected with its overhauled A524 and it languishes in ninth place in the Constructors’ Championship with six rounds remaining.
Alpine appeared to be building momentum when it logged four successive points finishes, but the side has posted two top-10 results in the seven races since Austria.
But Oakes, who was appointed over the summer, hopes that Alpine being behind the competition when it comes to bringing upgrades can inspire a late-season boost.
“We know between now and the end of the year we have got some performance coming,” Oakes told Autosport.
“After Spa and Zandvoort, you hope you can survive; this run of races was sort of what you had. But I think actually what you’re seeing we’re a little bit out of sync.
“We were late bringing what we brought from some of the beginning of the season and then you end up a bit out of sync when others have brought stuff.
“I hope between now and the end of the year we can at least show we’ve got some performance to come.”
Alpine cautious on avoiding development issues
However, Oakes has acknowledged that developments elsewhere this season have showcased that introducing updates doesn’t guarantee a step in competitiveness.
Aston Martin, Ferrari, Mercedes and RB have all experienced unintended complications when bolting new parts onto their respective challengers throughout this term.
“Some people have brought big steps this year, some have brought some that haven’t worked,” he added.
“We’ve just got to actually see, when we bring it, how it performs.
“I don’t think it’s as simple as a number from what you’re hoping to bring. At the end of the day, it’s also got to translate to the track.
“I do think it is quite tight in that battle in the middle there and you see it swing, so it’s quite interesting that one weekend to the next,
even between drivers at the front actually in the same car and the same teams.
“It’s quite interesting as a neutral just seeing how much that does swing track to track and also, I dare say, in the battles we’re having.”
Meanwhile, Oakes has insisted that he doesn’t harbour “concerns” that his drivers could have become demotivated, even though Esteban Ocon is departing to Haas.
“Obviously, they get frustrated, as I would,” he reasoned. “You don’t want to be cruising around on Sunday with nothing to fight for.”
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