Ex-Alpine F1 boss Bruno Famin has revealed Alpine are shedding roughly 0.2s in lap time on account of their underperforming Renault engine.
In the course of the Belgian Grand Prix, Famin introduced that he would step down as Alpine F1 group principal, opening the door for Oliver Oakes to affix the group.
The information got here amongst Alpine’s choice to desert their engine undertaking at Viry, and turn out to be a buyer group.
Alpine have struggled to capitalise on their works standing, slipping again within the pecking order in 2024.
Consequently, Alpine are contemplating buyer choices, almost definitely with Mercedes.
Talking on the Past the Grid podcast, Famin conceded the choice to desert the engine undertaking at Viry was a “massive shock” for everybody.
“I believe the massive announcement was on Tuesday, final Tuesday, the place we needed to make the announcement to the workers in Viry that there was a undertaking to modify to a special energy unit from 2026,” he stated. “And that was actually a shock.”
By way of numbers, Famin confirmed that Renault’s engine is down by 10-15 kilowatts, leading to 0.2s on lap time relying on the observe.
“Proper now the present engine is a bit down by 15 kilowatts,” he defined. “I believe it’s what FIA figures are saying.
“Renault actually missed the purpose in 2014 when the present regulation was born with the 2 hybrid techniques – Renault completely missed.
“However now we’re 10 to fifteen kilowatts down. The ability unit is, let’s say, on common two-tenths of lap time.”
Alpine sit eighth within the constructors’ championship on 11 factors.
Their driver line-up for 2025 remains to be undecided with solely Pierre Gasly confirmed.
Jack Doohan is reportedly the favorite to affix Gasly at Enstone following Esteban Ocon’s departure.
