Alpine to bring aero upgrade package to Imola

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Alpine's A521 will take to the track this week at Imola fitted with an aerodynamic upgrade package according to the team's executive director Marcin Budkowski.

The French outfit left Bahrain last month with no points in its bag after both Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon fell victim of adverse circumstances.

The Spaniard's race at Sakhir was sealed by overheating brakes due to a sandwich wrapper stuck in the car's brake duct, while Ocon was deprived of a chance to score a top-ten finish by a contact with Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel.

Overall however, Budkowski admitted that Alpine's pace in Bahrain was not on a par with that of the top midfield rivals it ambitions to fight this season

"The Bahrain race weekend confirmed some of the weaknesses of our package, which we’re working hard to improve and gain the few tenths of a second that we are currently missing to fight at the front of the midfield," explained Budkowski ahead of this week's Emilia Romagna GP.

Budkowski is hoping for an upturn in performance in Italy where Alpine will field a car featuring a series of aero updates while the team is also scheduled to test a few elements that may find their way permanently onto the A521 at upcoming races.

Read also: Alonso hopes Alpine used up its 'bad luck' in Bahrain

"It will be interesting to see how our car performs on a different circuit, having only been to Bahrain for testing and the first race so far this season," added the Alpine executive director.

"It will also generate new data to help our development effort. As a team, we have happy memories from our podium here last season so it’s good to go back!

"We have an aerodynamic upgrade package coming to the car for this Grand Prix.

"In addition, we have some test items to assess during Friday practice, which will help define further upgrades planned over the next few races."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.