Anonymous Alpine source claims that Fernando Alonso will struggle with the new machinery produced for the 2022 season.
Since he returned, Fernando Alonso will give his second season to F1. Last year, Alpine looked like an exciting unit, where the French constructors’ grabbed a couple of podiums to declare they meant business.
However, this year, a mega restructuring in the team’s leadership might halt the progress. Alonso, who is currently racing at the age of 40, is still aiming to win a championship or at least compete with the big boys in the paddock.
But an anonymous source within Alpine claims the French constructors are not making a car that could fulfil the ambitions of the Spaniard in 2022.
“Fernando is very good. The car… not so much,” a source within the Alpine garage reportedly told Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo. Whether this is true or not, only time will tell.
Fernando Alonso thinks otherwise
Meanwhile, during the presentation, Alonso claimed that his team had something exciting to show this year. He was signalling that it wouldn’t be an easy challenge from Alpine.
“We have made a good step forward in terms of power with our new engine. I hope we will be competitive at the level of the others,” Alonso said to the media during the Alpine reveal.
“But we have lost performance with the new fuel, so we will also have to take this factor into account when talking about engine performance.”
Though, on the same day, he talked to the Spanish outlet RTVE admitting he wasn’t sure whether he was satisfied with the car. However, he claimed that he is happy with the things that are progressing in the team.
“I don’t know if I’m satisfied yet with the performance of the car or not, because we are in the first days, but I’m happy in general with how things are going.”
“To be in a new preseason, with the illusion of starting a new year, and hopefully the pandemic will also give us a break,” he further added. Alpine last year finished fifth in the constructors’ standings.
This year, they probably aim to fight for the third spot against Ferrari and McLaren. Though, initial reports suggest that Ferrari might edge both their rivals out and could also give Mercedes and Red Bull a run for their money.
