Alpine F1 prepares for 'huge' surprise upgrade amid ongoing Summer Break

As the Formula 1 summer break unfolds, Alpine F1 is gearing up for a significant upgrade to its car that could shape the future of the team. The Enstone-based squad has revealed plans for a "quite big" upgrade that will be crucial for the final stretch of the season and form the foundation of their 2025 car.

The 2024 season has not been kind to Alpine, with their A524 car initially struggling at the back of the grid during the Bahrain Grand Prix. The team faced an uphill battle, starting the year as one of the slowest on the track. However, this challenging start has prompted major changes within the team’s infrastructure.

Key departures, such as technical director Matt Harman moving to Williams and the soon-to-leave team principal Bruno Famin, have left gaps that need to be filled. To strengthen their team, Alpine brought in notable figures like Flavio Briatore as an F1 team advisor and David Sanchez as the executive technical director, with Oliver Oakes set to take over as team principal after the summer break.

Despite the turbulent season, Alpine has managed to make some headway on the track. The team’s consistent efforts have seen them climb from the back of the pack to become regular points scorers. They now stand in eighth place in the Constructors’ Championship, a position that reflects their steady improvement.

What are the details of an upcoming upgrade?

Alpine's momentum is set to continue with the announcement of an upcoming upgrade, which is expected to debut during the end-of-season flyaway races. According to David Sanchez, this upgrade is part of a two-stage development plan that began with the Belgian Grand Prix.

Sanchez, who joined Alpine in May, emphasized that this upcoming upgrade is a critical step toward the team’s future success. He highlighted that the initial phase of upgrades was just the beginning, with the next stage being more substantial and forming the basis for next year’s car.

“The number one problem is for everyone to find more downforce and try to design out some anomalies which we may see with the current car. This [latest update] package is intended primarily for more downforce, but also a little bit more top speed”, he said.

“I think where we are now, the plan we have, if I look at '26 and beyond, we should be in a good position. Now it's more to get everything in the right direction with this car, the next one, and build more confidence in the team”, he further added.