Formula 1 2022 preview: The Alps continue to advance
After returning to Formula 1 in 2021, Alpine has repeatedly stated that he is back to become world champion. The French team took a new step towards becoming the world champion in 2022. The Tricolors are the best of the rest, finishing 4th in the Constructors’ Championship, behind the three untouchable leaders. Now it remains to start tickling them next year.
Alp (4th, 173 points): 4th force accepted on the board
120 points behind McLaren in 2021 and 14 points ahead of McLaren this season, there is no doubt: Alp has made progress in 2022. Unlike last year, the Viry-Chatillon stable proved itself even if the French did not score any wins or podiums. the 4th force in the network. In a fight to the finish with Woking’s stable, Alpine could easily overtake the Briton, especially if the reliability issues faced by Fernando Alonso were resolved during the season. But no matter how you get there, the end result is what Laurent Rossi’s men have been waiting for.
P4 in the Constructors’ Championship. ?
A year of hard work and commitment from every person involved in our team. ?
Together we will keep pushing. pic.twitter.com/YBV2xBUFKJ
— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) November 20, 2022
Esteban Ocon (8th, 92 points): solid, consistent and ahead of his teammate
Many have tried, few have succeeded. In 2022, Esteban Ocon beat Fernando Alonso, one of the most difficult team-mates on his side. With 92 points, the French are ranked in the top 7 with the best result of 4th place in Japan. Constant, Norman, unlike Lando Norris, who was ahead of him in the championship, did not reach the podium. Norman’s record is good, he continues to move up with the team in the A axis as he scored 18 points more than last year.
Although he overtook his neighbor in the garage, he remains to confirm this result. Indeed, the Spaniard retired nine times due to mechanical problems. And despite this insecurity, he is only 11 points behind his teammate. Esteban Ocon will have to raise his voice in 2023 to remain the team leader against the newcomer.
2022 ✅ We are very proud of this team and what we have achieved this season ?? THANK YOU ? Wishing a legend @alo_official All the best for next season. Now it’s time to relax a bit before getting ready for 2023! ???? pic.twitter.com/ynmEe3Qcsn
— Esteban Ocon (@OconEsteban) November 20, 2022
Fernando Alonso (9th, 81 points): unlucky and still there
In 2022, Fernando Alonso did Fernando Alonso. Far from being the fastest in Australia with a car that was very close to pole position, he finished 7th in Austin after a huge collision with Lance Stroll, while repeatedly ranting against the reliability of his single-seater, in short, the Spaniards all spat. The Asturian bull was not really helped by the Alps. He suffered mechanical problems in car number 14 several times. It’s enough to infuriate the two-time world champion, who openly targets the tricolor clan, that he often tends to speak his mind in interviews. It should be said that these situations often happened when the player from Oviedo was in the top 10, preparing to score big points in both the drivers’ and teams’ championships. Without these scholarships, Fernando Alonso could very well have finished 7th overall ahead of Lando Norris. But here he is finally 9th, just 11 points behind Esteban Ocon. If he admits he wants to leave the Alps at the end of the season, his future will be written at Aston Martin, alongside Lance Stroll. A new challenge for those still dreaming of adding the 3rd world crown to their list.
Fernando Alonso flying behind Lance Stroll’s single seater is correct ?#USGP ?? pic.twitter.com/CM7WgSfoID
— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) October 24, 2022
2023 season: 100% tricolor squad
With Aston Martin-bound Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri rotating against the odds at McLaren, Laurent Rossi had to look for another driver to back up Esteban Ocon. After several weeks of deliberation, negotiation and negotiation, it was Pierre Gasly who was chosen by the team at A fléché. Released from his contract with Red Bull, Norman will reunite with his karting friend at Alpine. A completely French duo in the French stable, there is something to dream about.
With his new teammate, Esteban Ocon will have his work cut out for him. Pierre Gasly has sublimated Alpha Tauri for years and can quickly become very competitive with the Alps. To the point of threatening the leader of the team of the winner of the Hungarian Grand Prix? If the two men are on equal footing at the start of the season, there is certainly a part of the team alongside the driver who has anchored Renault for years and then Alpine. If the two have a good relationship, it remains to be seen how that will develop over the Grand Prix and the results achieved by one or the other. A French world champion driving a tricolor single seater would be awesome. This is the dream of all the Alps and many fans in France anyway.
