Internal worries at Alpine: 'The car is not good, there are many things missing'

The problems at Alpine are bigger than expected. The Spanish Mundo Deportivo has learned from a source that there are internal doubts about the A522, while Fernando Alonso is showing his best form.

In the winter test you cannot say exactly how everyone is doing, but you can get a certain indication. Everyone drives their own schedule, but everyone wants to collect as much data as possible. So what you see on the track is not so interesting, but the team's body language and quotes are interesting.

The sounds were not good from the Alpine camp during the whole test week. During the first two days, an engine was driven at half power because there were concerns about reliability. Those concerns proved to be true when the team really went for it on Friday and Alonso had to abandon Friday after only a few laps with a smoking car.

The Spanish medium spoke with an Alpine employee and when asked how Alonso was doing, a clear picture emerged: ''With Fernando it's going very well. With the car not so....'', the source said according to Mundo Deportivo, shaking his head, before adding that many things would be missing from the car.

For Alpine and Alonso, it would be a huge blow if the 2022 regulations are not interpreted properly. Alonso came back with the goal of becoming world champion, 'El Plan', and Alpine has been pointing to these regulations for years as the chance to make the step up to the top. If it doesn't work out now, it looks like the end of Alonso anyway, but maybe also of Alpine.