French nightmare
The first race of the 2024 Formula 1 season not only provided interesting verdicts for the top teams, but also for the middle and back of the grid teams. From this perspective, the greatest sensation, unfortunately in a negative sense, was aroused byAlpine. The French team, which already appeared to be in serious crisis during the pre-season tests, turned out to be the bottom of the group. An unacceptable situation for an official team that theoretically should compete with Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull.
The disastrous start to this year, which follows a series of difficult results experienced in recent seasons, has already led toyet another whole revolution: after the Bahrain GP, the resignation of the technical director Matt Harman he was born in head of aerodynamics Dirk de Beer, resigned even before the presentation of the new A524. Now, however, according to some rumors circulating in the paddock, the very future of the French team is in danger.
Andretti, possible opportunity
“There are the first four teams, then Aston Martin, then the others and finally Alpine”he declared to Ekstra Bladet the new Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu, placing Alpine in no uncertain terms in the role of the last force in the field. In this particular context it is circulating the hypothesis of a possible future farewell of the French company to F1. The team would benefit Andretti-Cadillacat the center of a long political controversy between F1 and the FIA for its attempt – so far unsuccessful – to enter the Circus as the 11th team.
If Alpine was really close to a possible exit from the scene Andretti could try to buy the French team, replicating the same operation implemented by Audi to enter the grid. In this way the American team would circumvent the obstacle posed by the other teams, which do not want to divide the rich revenue cake into more than ten slices.
Andretti had also already reached an agreement in principle with Renault for the supply of power units if he had obtained the green light to enter the championship. This agreement could therefore remain in place until the actual advent of General Motors as an engine manufacturer. Fantasy-Formula 1, for now, but the evidence suggests that this is not such a far-fetched possibility.
#Alpine #crisis #Andretti #opportunity
