Alpine Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore has admitted the team must construct a better chassis in 2025 to overcome its current three-tenth power deficit in Formula 1.
The Anglo-French marque capitalised on wet conditions in Brazil last time out to manage a shock double podium that has elevated it up three places in the standings.
Alpine’s remarkable 35-point total at Interlagos more than doubled the side’s previous total, which had it languishing down in ninth in the Constructors’ Championship.
However, Briatore, who returned to the Renault-owned squad earlier this season, is under no illusion that the deluge in Sao Paulo concealed Alpine’s largest weakness.
Alpine has been subdued to a power disadvantage since F1 introduced the engine freeze in 2022, prompting the choice to change from Renault to Mercedes for 2026.
But with one more campaign to go as a works entry, Briatore has acknowledged that Alpine being more competitive in 2025 is dependent on the engineers at Enstone.
“In the wet the discussion relating to engine power is reset,” Briatore told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“So even in 2025 we will have to make up for these three-tenths that we are missing by making a better car.
“We must not worry, because we know that it is like this and we will have to try to do well using better aerodynamics and studying the tyres. Without feeling sorry for ourselves.”
Oakes highlights Alpine’s progress in 2024
However, Alpine boss Oliver Oakes has highlighted that the team had shown genuine progress compared to earlier in the season with the updates it brought to Austin.
Pierre Gasle advanced to Q3 in dry qualifying sessions at both the United States and Mexico City Grands Prix, converting a top-10 appearance at the latter into a point.
“I think, obviously, since Austin, we’ve had a bit of pace with this upgrade,” Oakes told media including Motorsport Week post-race.
He added: “It’s no secret that the car that was launched at the beginning of the year was probably not one which would go down the front end of Enstone, if I’m honest.
“But I think the performance we brought with the car sort of in-season I think is pretty impressive.
“I think you only have to look at that as it’s sort of gone on, the rate of progression.
“I think what’s tricky in this sort of regulation cycle, you can see it with different teams, is you can start the year strongly, then fade, you can improve during it.
“And the trick is to sort of, A, stay there, and also keep bringing performance. I’ve not been here long enough to judge that yet.”
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