After all the other manufacturers – apart from Alfa Romeo which will do so next Sunday – it was Alpine’s turn to enter the deep end, with the presentation this Monday of its new single-seater, the A522. The group belonging to Renault, whose CEO, Luca de Meo, was present on Monday at the Palais de Tokyo, is displaying its ambitions at the same time. Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso are already ready to take up the challenge that awaits the French manufacturer, namely to do better than 5th place last year.
It has the surname of an airplane and everyone at Alpine hopes that it will fly just as fast on circuits around the world. The A522 is the new blue arrow, or rather blue and pink. This sweet note is reminiscent of the Force India then Racing Point of Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll. And for good reason: it is the color of BWT, an Austrian water treatment supplier that has become, as of this year, the new title sponsor of the French team.
“The A522 retains a superb Alpine blue dress, now associated with the emblematic pink of BWT, recently announced as the title partner of the team in 2022, explains the team. BWT Alpine F1 Team also created a surprise by lifting the veil on an inverted decoration where pink is the main color. This unique livery will be used for the first two races of the calendar in order to highlight the collaboration with the title partner BWT. »
The racing car looks good, almost as beautiful as the previous one, even if the blue-white-red now only appears on the rear part. The machine is of course up to the standards of the new regulations, with new diffusers underneath, modified front and rear fins, a heavier engine (V6 Turbo 1.6 l hybrid), and wheels with hubcaps that go from 13 at 18 inches. “We are almost going to start from scratch, we have zero experience with a car with such a concept, a car with tires like that, we have a lot to learn”, notes Ocon, 25, winner of his first GP in Hungary last year.
Fifth last year in the world ranking of manufacturers, Alpine must do better for its second year in the great barnum of F1. It was therefore decided to make some changes to the organization chart. Under the direction of Laurent Rossi, Otmar Szafnauer (57) has been named Team Principal. Former director of Racing Point (and therefore of Aston Martin), this American has 33 years of experience in motorsport. Bruno Famin – who worked for Peugeot Sport – has been appointed technical director in charge of engine development at the Viry-Châtillon site.
“With Otmar and Bruno, we are moving to a new level for 2022,” says Laurent Rossi. Otmar will bring his unique motorsport background and uncompromising desire to win, while Bruno’s proven track record in building technology has been the difference in the competition and their subsequent results. Our team is complete and ready to lead the team towards its ambitious goals in 2022.”
Less than a month from the first Grand Prix in Bahrain (March 20), the A522 will be on track in Barcelona this Tuesday for a skakedown (little driving which serves to check that the newly designed single-seater does not suffer from teething problems). The drivers will then take part in the first three days of winter testing on the same track, starting on Wednesday. “If I came back to F1 it’s for these changes, attractive on paper because normally we will be able to follow each other more closely, there will be more action in the race”, explains the double world champion (2005 , 2006) Alonso, who returned to F1 last season aged 40.