Alpine follows Mercedes' example and intensifies cooperation

At Alpine, the engine department is working more closely with the car department this year. This has caused certain compromises, but should produce a better result in the final reckoning.

After a big change at the top, Alpine seems to be starting from scratch again in 2022. With Otmar Szafnauer as the new team boss, the team is once again striking out in a new direction. The goal under the previous leadership was to be competitive and competing for prizes again in 2022, but that is not yet achievable with the A522.

The engine does seem to have taken a big step forward compared to its predecessors. However, Bruno Famin, the director of the engine department at Renault, states that it is not only the numbers of the engine that are looked at. At Motorsport.com the top man says that this year the decision was made to work together with the car and engine departments in order to achieve a better overall package.

Thus, for the first time in 2022, Renault has chosen to make the switch to the split-turbo. Mercedes already had this design in 2014 and Honda followed the Germans in recent years. Now Renault has made that switch as well, and it helps the car department in particular. They can in fact create a narrower design at the rear of the car.

All this should ensure that the Alpine car eventually becomes the fastest on the grid, but that still seems far away. After four races, the French team is sixth in the standings, beating customer teams like McLaren (of Mercedes) and Alfa Romeo (of Ferrari).