Alpine spent 2023 in the abyss. They were comfortably better than the likes of Williams, AlphaTauri, Alfa Romeo and Haas – but could only nip at the heels of those in front on a handful of occasions. The result was a lonely sixth in the constructors’ championship.
It wasn’t the easiest of seasons off-track either. CEO Laurent Rossi was moved aside, with Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer and Sporting Director Alan Permane also parting ways – all in the space of a few weeks. Their Chief Technical Officer Pat Fry left for Williams, later admitting he didn’t believe the team had enough drive to succeed.
READ MORE: Famin confirmed as Alpine team boss for 2024 season after interim period
That’s enough to destabilise any team. But Bruno Famin assumed the role of running the team – a position that is now permanent – and has set about restructuring, which includes recruiting a new Chief Operating Officer at chassis HQ at Enstone and another for their engine base at Viry.
He also sanctioned a complete overhaul of the car for this season, the team hampered by a 2023 machine that had a narrow operating window and lower than hoped for performance ceiling. Their technical lead Matt Harman says that everything bar the steering wheel is new.