Alpine defends in Austin against McLaren with last upgrade of the year

The season is nearing its end, leaving few developments in the 2022 cars. For the United States GP, Alpine F1 is one of the few teams taking an upgrade anyway. The Enstone-based team must defend itself against McLaren.

With Red Bull Racing, Ferrari and Mercedes no longer to be beaten in the championship, Alpine and McLaren are fighting it out for the title of 'the best of the rest'. McLaren, which started a lot stronger than Alpine, was logically ahead of its rival for a long time. Alpine was plagued by DNF's due to an unreliable engine. After the summer break, the proportions seem to have moved in opposite directions. Alpine is performing stronger and can go for the points with both drivers, Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon, while McLaren has to lean much more on just one driver, Lando Norris.

Alpine already came out with a much-improved floor in Singapore, but at Suzuka it really showed what the team got out of it. After analysing the good data the team had collected in Japan, it was decided to develop the floor even further in Austin. The changes are not major, but should ensure progress. Speaking to Soymotor.com says team boss Otmar Szafnauer: "In Austin, we will take a small adjustment to the outside of our new flat floor. It is our last improvement of the year and it comes on a track where you can overtake well."