Oakes says 2025 will be ‘real barometer’ of Alpine’s progress

Alpine F1 team boss Oliver Oakes has acknowledged that the French team has all but written off its dismal 2024 campaign, insisting that 2025 will be the true indicator of the outfit’s progress.

Alpine has struggled all year to find its footing and now sits a lowly ninth in F1’s Constructors’ Championship, having recently fallen behind Williams after a string of poor results.

Alpine’s A524 car has been a disappointment, and despite the promise of upcoming upgrades, Oakes has made it clear that any progress in the short term is unlikely to radically change the team's fortunes.

“Some people have brought big steps this year,” Oakes explained, quoted by Formu1a.uno. “Some have brought some that haven’t worked.

“So I think we’ve just got to actually see when we bring it how it performs. You know a number from what you’re hoping to bring. At the end of the day, it’s also got to translate to the track.

“At the moment, there’s nothing that’s going to change drastically between now and the end of the year.

• Read also: Alpine’s Oakes on Renault call: ‘I just want the best engine’

“I think the real journey is sort of how we go through these next phases. I think the real barometer of that is going to be how we start next year, really.

“I’m definitely confident because we need to work hard, and we haven’t forgotten how to build a good race car. But I do think where we are now, we know we need to improve at the end of the day.”

Alpine’s poor form has left Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon frustrated as they grapple with an uncompetitive car that has offered little in terms of performance gains.

While both drivers have remained professional and motivated, the situation has been far from ideal. Oakes acknowledged the challenges the due has faced this season.

“They’re both from my point of view good to work with and massively professional,” he said.

“There are never any concerns over them being motivated. I think obviously they get frustrated, as I would. You don’t want to be cruising around on Sunday with nothing to fight for at the moment.”

“But I think actually we know between now and the end of the year we have got some performance coming.

“I think actually what you’re seeing we’re a little bit out of sync is my view. I think we were late bringing what we brought from the beginning of the season, and then you end up a bit out of sync when others have brought stuff.

“And I hope between now and the end of the year we can at least show we’ve got some performance to come.”

Oakes also played down the importance of the ongoing battle with Williams for eighth place in the Constructors' standings, explaining that the team's ambitions extend far beyond that fight.

“I kind of don’t want to say it is a big battle, because you’re at the back of the grid,” he said.

“But I think at the end of the day, we’re on the back foot of that battle after Baku. And definitely the target is to try and keep that going to Abu Dhabi, and hopefully get it back.

“But also it’s not really the battle you want to be focused on. We need to focus on ourselves, and we’re not good enough at the moment.”

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