Alpine shifts development focus "entirely" onto 2022 F1 car

After the opening 10 rounds of the 2021 F1 season, the Anglo-French squad sits seventh in the constructors’ championship, nine points behind fifth-placed AlphaTauri and eight adrift of Aston Martin in P6. 

Teams have faced a difficult dilemma in balancing resources between the development of F1’s all-new car for the 2022 regulation overhaul while simultaneously trying to enhance their competitiveness for the current campaign. 

Ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix - which marks the final race before the teams shut down for F1's traditional summer break - Alpine confirmed it will no longer update its 2021 challenger. 

“It’s been a big push from the start of the season with both Enstone and Viry working hard to develop the car,” Budkowski explained. 

“The focus has now switched entirely to 2022 at both factories, meaning there are fewer new parts coming to the track, but the second half of the calendar is a gruelling schedule and everyone in the team looks forward to the two-week break to recharge.

“But, before we can relax, we are aiming for another strong showing and a double points finish in Hungary.”

Alpine recorded its first double-points finish since May at Silverstone as Fernando Alonso kept up his run of five consecutive races in the points, while Esteban Ocon returned to form at the British GP with a top-10 finish. 

“I think Fernando has now silenced for good whoever doubted his return would be a success,” Budkowski added. 

“His speed is still there, and his racecraft is second to none, as we saw once again in both races last Saturday and Sunday. He will no doubt continue pushing himself and the team as the season goes on. 

“After two difficult weekends, it was great to see Esteban in good form and a solid weekend allowed him to return to the points. He can now build on this good performance and retrieve his superb early season form.”