Dakar Rally News: Alpine’s Bold Gamble Pays Off Despite Early Struggles
In a surprising turn of events, Alpine’s bold decision to completely overhaul their Formula 1 car concept for the 2023 season has been met with unwavering support from driver Pierre Gasly. Despite a disappointing start to the campaign, Gasly believes the team’s daring move was the right choice.
Before undergoing a major technical reshuffle in recent months, Alpine chose to forgo further development of their A523 model, opting instead to open a new avenue of exploration with the A524. This decision came as the team, fourth in the constructors’ championship in 2022, slipped to a distant eighth place in the standings after the first half of the season.
“Last year the team felt that it got to the end of the development with their car concept,” Gasly told Autosport. “As we missed our targets, they’re like, ‘do we want to go for another year where we know we’ll probably be stuck to where we are?’ And they said, we want more than that, so, we’ll try something else.”
Gasly’s understanding of Alpine’s decision is a testament to his commitment to the team’s long-term vision. The Frenchman acknowledges that the change in direction has not yet yielded the desired results, but he remains confident in the team’s ability to turn things around.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t pay out with the directions that you know they took with the car concept we have this year, but nonetheless, I still think the way the team’s operating is at a better level than when I arrived,” Gasly said.
The driver is hopeful that the work done at Enstone and the potential for improvement will propel Alpine to better results in the coming months and lay a solid foundation for the 2025 season. Gasly’s unwavering support and belief in the team’s long-term strategy are sure to inspire the Alpine crew as they navigate the challenges of the Dakar Rally.
🔗 Source