Formula 1 Russian GP
Alpine expects return to normal F1 form at Sochi
Alpine Formula 1 team executive director Marcin Budkowski expects the Enstone outfit to bounce back in the next race in Russia after a blip in form at the Italian GP.
Adam Cooper
Edited: Sep 20, 2021, 4:39 PM
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Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon qualified only 13th and 14th at Monza, and eventually finished Sunday's Grand Prix eighth and 10th, helped by attrition ahead.
The positive outcome was that the team gained five points in the battle with AlphaTauri for fifth place in the world championship, which it now heads by 95 to 84.
Budkowski said the team knew in advance that Monza will be a struggle for the A521.
"Sochi will be better, not quite perfect for us, but better," he told Motorsport.com. "I think we should be back to our level of competitiveness that we've had so far, which means qualifying in the top 10, and racing for slightly bigger points.
"I think given our starting positions to be honest both cars in the points is a decent result. Monza is a circuit where we knew we'd suffer, as our package is not the most adapted to these kind of circuits.
"Honestly, coming out of here with five points in the bag, with AlphaTauri not scoring, actually it's a pretty decent weekend.
"For us, it was pretty eventful. So getting both to the chequered flag is really satisfactory as well. Good start and good opening lap for Fernando, but after that, the race positions were pretty stable."
Fernando Alonso, Alpine A521, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Budkowski would not elaborate on whether aero or the power unit was the primary reason for the car's form at Monza.
"I'm not going to get dragged into this because I don't think it's right. We have a package. We know what its strengths and weaknesses are, and knew this was a circuit that wasn't really adapted to our strengths and weaknesses."
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Ocon's race was compromised by a five-second penalty after contact with Sebastian Vettel.
The Frenchman was deemed not to have left the Aston Martin driver enough room under braking for the second chicane.
"I don't like to comment on on stewards' decisions, one way or another," said Budkowski. "He was racing, it was hard racing.
"Whether there was just enough space or just not enough space I think it was he was a close call, but the stewards decided there was just not enough space. Fair enough, take it on the chin."
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