Alpine ‘Daringly’ Copy McLaren’s Strategy to Inspire Mega Changes for F1’s 2024 Championship

The conclusion of the 2023 Formula 1 season witnessed a stark contrast between two teams; McLaren and Alpine grappled with entirely different trajectories. McLaren’s mid-season resurgence, marked by a string of podium finishes, was attributed to a bold restructuring led by Team Principal Andrea Stella. In contrast, Alpine struggled and slipped to P6 in the Constructor’s Championship. Looking ahead to the upcoming season with hopes of a resurgence, Alpine has decided to follow in McLaren’s footsteps, opting for daring changes in the hopes of a stronger performance in the 2024 season.

McLaren’s remarkable turnaround in 2023 can be traced back to a strategic restructuring of its aerodynamic department at Woking. Implemented in March, this overhaul aimed to streamline operations and foster a cohesive approach to innovation. The restructuring involved creating three distinct pillars within the technical structure, providing clarity on responsibilities and objectives. Unfortunately, the same wasn’t the case for Alpine, but the Enstone-Viry team wants to make amends in 2024.

Alpine’s response: Embracing daring changes

In contrast to McLaren’s proactive approach, Alpine found itself in a challenging position in 2023. A slip from fourth to sixth in the Constructor’s Championship, coupled with inconsistent performances from the A523 car, prompted the team to acknowledge the need for significant changes. The mid-season upheaval, including the ousting of Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer and Sporting Director Alan Permane, signified a turbulent period off the track.

Alpine’s new interim Team Principal, Bruno Famin, acknowledged its struggle to unlock its full potential and pointed out a lack of daring initiatives. In an interview with Autosport, Famin emphasized the need to tap into the talents of everyone on the team and align various aspects to enhance overall performance. “I think, with the changes we made mid-season, we untapped some potential in the people, I think people are much freer to propose things, to improve. I think that’s especially true on the trackside, where immediately I saw a change in the mindset.”

Alpine is fully embracing its changes like McLaren did in 2023; per Famin, it’s paying off. “We promoted, for example, [team manager] Rob Cherry and [chief mechanic] Jason Milligan. They are doing a very good job in proposing improvements, in making sure that their guys also propose things. I think all this potential was a bit capped until the end of July, and I’m very happy with that.” He continued, “It’s true for the garage, it’s true also for the track engineering, it’s true for the strategy, and we are daring things we were not daring before.”

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Famin’s focus on fostering a daring mindset within Alpine is not just about changing personnel but transforming the entire culture. He highlighted a case study where the team demonstrated a rapid and positive reaction following a poor performance in Monza. The team analyzed the issues, proposed new solutions, developed aero evolutions, and implemented them in time for the next race in Las Vegas, showcasing a newfound proactive attitude. With things finally taking shape for the Enstone-Viry team, what can it do in 2024?

Alpine’s 2024 championship prospects

Despite things looking up for Alpine, Bruno Famin refrained from setting specific targets for Alpine’s turnaround, emphasizing the need to change the team’s attitude and mindset. After finishing 2022 in P4 in the Constructors’ Championship, the team strove to do the same or even better in 2023. Evidently, setting those expectations didn’t work for Alpine.

“I have no idea of how long it will take, and I don’t want to fix a target,” Famin stated. “The objective for this winter and for next year will be to develop that attitude, that mindset, changing the culture. And again, [it] is not Viry against Enstone; it’s the whole thing altogether.”

As Alpine prepares for the 2024 season, the team is committed to developing a daring attitude, changing the culture, and aligning all elements for a better performance. Famin remains optimistic about the potential for improvement, acknowledging that building a better team and car is an ongoing process.

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While specific timelines are not set, the emphasis is on developing momentum, fostering a collaborative spirit between Viry and Enstone (Alpine’s two factory bases), and creating an environment where every team member feels empowered to contribute ideas.