F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Alonso: Alpine has lost 'too much ground' to McLaren

Fernando Alonso says that Alpine's gap to McLaren this season exceeded its expectations based on the two teams' relative performance in 2020.

The Enstone squad, racing under the Renault banner last year, finished fifth in the Constructors' standings but was in the running for a spot on the podium along with midfield rivals McLaren and Racing Point up until F1's finale in Abu Dhabi.

Ultimately, McLaren finished 'best of the rest' in the championship, just seven points ahead of Racing Point and 21 points in front of Renault.

During the winter, Alonso says that the rebranded Alpine team projected another close fight with McLaren while it also anticipated a resurgence from Ferrari.

But halfway through this year's campaign, McLaren and Ferrari are on their own at the head of the midfield thanks to their progress, with Alpine trailing the duo by 86 points.

"I think the expectations or our ambitions at the beginning of the year was to repeat what Renault was able to do last year," Alonso said recently in Hungary

"Having in mind that Ferrari had a very strange 2020 season with quite low performance, we were expecting that maybe Ferrari was ahead of us. But it's true as well that we lost a little bit too much ground with McLaren.

"That Renault was fighting with McLaren until the last race last year and we are not able to do that this year."

Alpine rejoiced in Esteban Ocon's shock win at the Hungaroring which the team owed to the Frenchman's impeccable performance but especially to the lucky circumstances that conditioned the race from the outset.

However, Alonso noted that an analysis of Alpine's relative performance this year compared to 2020 revealed that the team had narrowed the gap to F1's front-runners, namely Mercedes and Red Bull.

"Looking and analysing all the numbers in a way, we reduced the gap with Mercedes and with some of the opposition," Alonso said.

"So even if we are P7 in the constructors' championship, we reduced the gap with the leaders and that's how tight everything became. From ninth to the top, everyone is closer.

"The same with Aston Martin, Racing Point last year was fighting for podiums and even won one grand prix and this year we are closer to them.

"So yeah, it was a bit up and down for all the teams, for us as well, but unfortunately we lost a couple of positions in the constructors' championship because the three teams that finished behind Renault last year are the three teams that have improved most."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

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.

Recent Posts

Norris and Leclerc agree: Sainz 'deserves to fight at the front'

As Carlos Sainz prepares for a new chapter in his Formula 1 career with Williams,…

3 mins ago

Sebastian Montoya steps up to Formula 2 with Prema

Sebastian Montoya, the 19-year-old son of former Formula 1 star Juan Pablo Montoya, is set…

15 hours ago

Sauber finds its ‘Northern Star’ under Binotto’s leadership

When former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto took on the role of Chief Operating Officer…

16 hours ago

Leclerc hails a season ‘without missed opportunities' in 2024

Charles Leclerc concluded the 2024 F1 season with a sense of satisfaction, the Ferrari driver…

18 hours ago

Coulthard sounds alarm over FIA president’s rift with F1 drivers

Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has voiced his dismay at FIA president Mohammed Ben…

19 hours ago

The rapid rise and fall of Super Aguri in F1

Super Aguri's application to join Formula 1 became a reality on this day in 2005,…

21 hours ago