Alpine plans new aerodynamic settings for Canada

It's a completely different direction that we decided to take Alpine for the Canadian Grand Prix compared to that of Azerbaijan. On the streets of Baku last weekend, the French team decided to run with a low aerodynamic load. The goal was then to offer a high top speed to Esteban Ocon et Fernando Alonso even if it means losing some in the winding part of the Azeri city.

On the track, the results of this choice were seen with an A522 which flew on the long start/finish straight, thus complicating any attempt to overtake its opponents. Lewis Hamilton or even Sebastian Vettel paid the price against the single-seaters ofAlpine which did not make their task easier when it came time to attack.

Alpine revises its settings upwards

After this strategic choice paid off for Alpine with a double finish in the points (Alonso 7^e and Ocon 10^e), Laurent's men Red arrive with other plans for the Canadian Grand Prix. In Montreal, the A552s will indeed carry more aerodynamic load where in Baku it was less.

« The downforce level will be slightly higher, Pat Fry tip, technical manager at Alpine. We have various fin mount options to test to identify the optimal setting. The nature of the Montreal track pushes you to increase the downforce level, because there are straights and a series of turns to negotiate at low or medium speed. Powertrain-wise, Montreal is very similar to Baku. The circuit is generally demanding on the brakes, so we will also monitor this."

It remains to be seen whether this new aerodynamic choice will bear fruit as in Baku or will put an end to the good momentum ofAlpine seen over the last few weekends.

ALSO READ > F1 in Melbourne until 2035, F2 and F3 in Australia from 2023