SEASON REVIEW: 2021 Formula 1 World Championship – Alpine F1 Team

Alpine F1 teams send back to formula One was faced with a relatively successful 2021 campaign, the team achieved an incredible victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix as well as an excellent podium at the Qatar Grand Prix. The line-up of the team Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonsowho returned to Formula 1 after two years, has proven to be a strong driver as both drivers have shown throughout the season that they are more than willing to help each other out for the good of the team.

The season actually started badly for the team, but as the year progressed Alpine showed the potential that many predicted. At the end of the year, Alonso was tenth in the Drivers’ Championship with eighty-one points, while Ocon, in eleventh, just missed out on a top ten finish. The Frenchman, who claimed his first win at the Hungary, ended the year with 74 points. As a team, they finished just under fifth in the Constructors’ Championship after battling for the place at the end of the season Scuderia Alpha Tauri Honda. Only thirteen points separated the two, but it was the French team that finished fifth with 155 points.

It was a big call from Alpine to sign Alonso, the Spaniard was extremely vocal during his time with the Mclaren F1 Team, many wonder if the two-time world champion would be a handful for the team. Those who thought about it couldn’t be more wrong, Alonso seemed very happy all season but most importantly showed that he still has the speed that led him to countless wins in his glory days. Alonso has not dominated operations at the team, although Ocon has proven more than worthy of his place in F1 in 2021 after arguably his strongest season in the series to date.

Fernando Alonso pulls up at Parc Férme after finishing third in the Qatar Grand Prix – Credit: Alpine F1 Team

The Heights:

The Hungarian Grand Prix was clearly the highlight of the Alpine season, the team disciplined enough to make the best of others’ misfortune, with a number of riders suffering significant damage in the race. Ocon surprisingly found himself in second place when the red flag was raised for the first corner collisions, but it was his and the team’s prompting to pit at the restart of the race on slick tires that got him probably secured the race. Not only that, but the consistent pace he demonstrated at the Hungaroring was of the highest quality. However, Ocon’s win was also thanks in large part to the phenomenal defense of Alonso, who kept the attack going Lewis Hamilton in chess incredibly much longer than the seven-time world champion wanted.

At the Qatar Grand Prix, however, it was Alonso who set foot on the podium for the first time since the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix, albeit on the third step. Alonso started third after some drivers received penalties for infringements in qualifying, the Spaniard was over Pierre Gasli and all but second after the first few corners, Alonso once again demonstrated the incredible speed and skill that has brought him so much success over the years. Much faster the veteran could not do anything about it Max Verstappen, who easily pushed the Spaniard aside. Alonso’s podium was secured after his team-mate returned Hungary’s favor and defended well against the stronger Sergio Perez.

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix that followed was another clearly positive weekend for the team, who once again had a strong points tally despite Alonso not even finishing in the top ten. It was all thanks to Ocon, who was snatched away from third place in the most gruesome fashion after being pulled over by Valtteri Bottas. Ocon, capitalizing heavily after the first red flag, put himself in an excellent position as the title contenders reunited. Ocon incredibly found himself in first place at the second red flag restart, before quickly dropping to third place behind Hamilton and Verstappen. From there, Ocon was consistent again at his pace, only to be beaten to the podium by the Savages Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team W12 car. Ocon had to settle for an agonizing fourth.

Esteban Ocon on the podium after winning the Hungarian Grand Prix – Credit: Alpine F1 Team

The lows:

During the 2021 season, Alpine endured some truly awful weekends, but none were perhaps more disappointing than that American Grand Prix. It was the only grand prix of the season where both cars retired in the same race, and it was also one of the few weekends when neither driver made it into third qualifying. At the American Grand Prix, Alpine not only struggled in a single lap, but also massively throughout the race. Both Alonso and Ocon were forced into retirement after the team found problems with their cars.

There was only one other weekend in 2021 where Alpine didn’t score a single point, and that was right at the start of the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Ocon didn’t deliver in the season opener and couldn’t even escape the first qualifying session, finishing thirteenth. Alonso’s first weekend back in the sport had started strongly, the Spaniard making his return to qualifying three but had to retire mid-race after his car began to overheat with debris getting caught in the brake ducts.

the Grand Prix of Austria was another particularly difficult one for the team who endured another dismal qualifying session. This put both cars in a poor position on the opening lap of the race Red Bull ring, where Esteban Ocon retired on the first lap after filling in a sandwich at Turn 3. Both of Ocon’s front tires bowed inward, completely destroying the Frenchman’s front suspension. Alonso managed to regain some dignity for Alpine after moving up to tenth after a late battle with George Russell.

Alonso ahead of Nicholas Latifi at the Austrian Grand Prix – Credit: Alpine F1 Team

Qualification fight:

Incredibly, there was nothing separating Alonso and Ocon in qualifying. Both riders managed to outqualify 11 times in 2021, showing just how close things were between Alpine riders during the season. However, it was Alonso who achieved the best qualifying position, the Spaniard naturally qualifying third at the Qatar Grand Prix while the highest grid position Ocon could achieve was fifth, still impressive.

Alonso also prevailed in the sprint qualifying, the veteran finished better than the Frenchman in two of three of the new events for 2021.

Ocon during treacherous qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix – Credit: Alpine F1 Team

race fight:

The pair were ridiculously close on race day too! However, Alonso only overtook Ocon by a single event. Alonso finished the season ahead of Ocon in eleven races, while Ocon only managed to finish ahead of Alonso ten times. The Frenchman clearly put up a brave fight against what is arguably the toughest team-mate of his career. However, Ocon obviously achieved a higher individual result than Alonso after winning at the Hungaroring, Alonso’s highest result was third Losail International Circuit.

In retirements, Ocon scored one more than his teammate, having retired from three races during the season, while Alonso retired from just two.

Alonso at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix season finale – Credit: Alpine F1 Team

What to expect in 2022?

It was already an eventful build-up to 2022 for Alpine after the French side parted ways with them Managing director Marcin Budkowski. It’s hard to imagine how Alpine can improve in 2022 after arguably giving their best in 2021. To move up the rankings next season, Alpine will have to go head-to-head against one of the sport’s big teams. It seems unlikely that Alpine will be able to compete against Mercedes on a regular basis, Red Bull race or Scuderia Ferrariwith only the remaining McLaren F1 team who themselves are considered a real potential underdog for 2022 after their rapid development since 2020.

Alpine should aim to finish at least fifth again in the Constructors’ Championship, otherwise it would be an exceptional season. To do this, both Alonso and Ocon will need to hit the ground running early in the season, a clean and positive winter for the team could give their drivers the best chance to do so. Ocon will try to be in the top ten more often and become a frequent driver in the top six to eight drivers. With that, he would end the season comfortably in the top ten and maybe even attract interest from Mercedes, depending on the movement in the driver market next season.

Alonso will simply try to do what he does best, delivering consistent points week after week, the Spaniard is also used to adapting his driving style to new technical regulations in the sport. This could play in his favor massively in early 2022, where the cars will all be drastically different than in recent years due to new tech regulations and policies. Alonso will also be the oldest driver on the grid in 2022 after the retirement of the 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonena new day for the Spaniard to get used to!

Alonso lifted Ocon after the Frenchman clinched the first win of his F1 career at the Hungaroring – Credit: Alpine F1 Team