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“If we can get the engine stable, we’ll make a big leap”– Alpine hopes to be at par with Mercedes in 2022 after reaching their engine targets

Tanish Chachra
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"We've seen that with Red Bull and Mercedes" - Renault set a timeline for returning to the top of the podium with Alpine

Alpine hopes to make a jump in their F1 standings as they hope to finish the deficit against Mercedes’ engine ahead of the 2022 season.

The new regulations will allow the other teams in the grid to make massive progress against the table leaders. Alpine, which so far has remained as a midtable team since its return, wants to make tremendous progress.

Alpine seeks to develop massively with the engine freeze and E10 fuel being added in F1 for 2022. In 2021, they lacked 35hp t Mercedes. And the new results have shown that they are matching their targets.

So, the French constructors are positive that if they keep things balanced on the track, they will be making a giant leap in their grid standings.

“If we can get the engine stable, we’ll make a big leap,” says the team. At Mercedes, it’s the other way around. The engine had enough power, at least when new. Reliability was more of a concern.

Alpine is cautiously optimistic about the new season. After all, they held fifth place with a technology package that is, in principle, three years old. “That means that we have improved in all other disciplines. And that could help us next year,” said technical director Marcin Budkowski.

Also read: Esteban Ocon in awe of his legendary Alpine teammate Fernando Alonso

Alpine is satisfied with their drivers

In 2021, Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon led the charge for the team. The pair brought in two podiums for Alpine, which includes a win by Ocon in Hungary.

Going in 2022, the team will repeat the lineup and have F2 2021 champion Oscar Piastri as the reserve driver. Talking about the arrangement, operations manager Alan Permane is satisfied.

“Fernando is just the same again. His experience is a gift for the team,” praised Permane. “Esteban is incredibly good at defending his position. When he’s in front, he doesn’t make any mistakes.”

Also read: Fernando Alonso downplays his involvement in the development of Alpine’s 2022 car

About the author

Tanish Chachra

Tanish Chachra

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Tanish Chachra is the Motorsport editor at The SportsRush. He saw his first race when F1 visited India in 2011, and since then, his romance with the sport has been seasonal until he took up this role in 2020. Reigniting F1's coverage on this site, Tanish has fallen in love with the sport all over again. He loves Kimi Raikkonen and sees a future world champion in Oscar Piastri. Away from us, he loves to snuggle inside his books.

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