Parc Ferme: F1 Half Term Report Part 2

It’s a little unfair, maybe, to lump the Silverstone-based team together with Formula 1’s current crop of “also-rans”, especially after their huge leap forward from the back of the grid in 2022.

Without a doubt, the AMR 23, in the hands of Fernando Alonso, looked like a clear and present threat to Red Bull’s dominance at the start of the season, together with Mercedes and Ferrari’s ambitions for the best of the rest Constructors' Title fight.

However, no sooner had Alonso announced his intent to be a permanent fixture on the podium than the Aston Martin rocket ran out of propellant.

The first splutter was in Spain, but they came back strong in Canada, and Barcelona just looked like a blip on the radar. However, Austria followed with a “cough”. Alonso beat the Mercedes, but there was no podium cigar - we put that down to the circuit. Then came Silverstone, and the rest is history.

Most of us assumed that it was the competition’s upgrades that had enabled them to catch and overtake Aston Martin Racing. However, that may not be the case. Rumours abound that the FIA had a quiet word in their, and others', ears about the front wing not conforming to the regs.

The resulting amendments are a better explanation of their performance downturn than some of the team blah that’s been given. However, what’s more concerning is the recent anguished looks on the double World Champion's face. It tends to suggest there’s no quick re-fuel solution here. Superb start, but Aston Martin need to maintain momentum.

Depending on your persuasion, you’ve either had a quiet chuckle or held your head in your hands over Ferrari's faux pas in recent years. However, a new team has emerged on the scene to steal their crown. Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce you to; Alpine née Renault, current flyers of the F1 light entertainment flag.

It was expected that the personality combination of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon would be the F1 season’s comedy gift. Surprisingly, and full credit to both drivers, this has been far from the case. I think it’s fair to say that both of them, together with their now ex-team principal – Otmar Szafnauer, have carried the team this year.

Like Ferrari, Alpine seem to suffer from the excessive interference and vulnerable egos of manufacturer heads. You know, those people who seem to believe that success can be manifested just by repeating their vision/mission incantations. “The Secret” has a lot to answer for!

No doubt, when Szafanauer spoke truth to power, it was not well received. i.e., whilst the team was moving in the right direction, the timeline for victory, like cochons volants, was not going to happen.

The Renault CEO was obviously not amused with this detour from the plan. Looking at the embarrassing prospect of a volte-face, the only logical option was to nuke the messenger and, effectively, the team structure. That way, there would be a tangible explanation to the board as to why milestones are being missed. Voila and good luck Bruno!

Quite where this Alpine story ends, I don’t know. Manufacturer teams, as Bernie always said, are fair-weather friends, prone to leave as soon as there’s a problem – economic or otherwise. F1 is now full of them!

Helmut Marko has run out of patience! Nothing new here, only this time it's with the underperforming junior team. Languishing at the bottom of the F1 Constructor championship, AlphaTauri’s performance is the total opposite of its older sibling.

Fortunately, friend and Team Principal Franz Tost is exiting at the end of the year. This has allowed the good doctor to don his proverbial boxing gloves and set about reading the team's 2024 future.

All this faffing around with their own chassis design etc. is over; The ‘B’ team will get the ‘B’ car. Which, in 2024, means the RB19, or as closer a version that the regulations permit. This also means the boys driving it, better deliver. Last year’s car it might be, but if this year's performance is anything to go by, it will beat the competition’s 2024 offerings too.

We can’t expect much from Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda in the current AT04. However, we assume the Honey Badger will lead here. I don’t imagine Daniel will spank Tsunoda who has grown significantly this year, but no doubt the good doctor will expect him to out-qualify and out-race the young Japanese driver. If not, then it’ll be back to flesh pressing and street doughnut duties for the avuncular Aussie.

Additionally, it is expected that they will revert to the more honest Toro Rosso name for next season. The foray into fashion to leverage an F1 team name wasn’t a bad idea, it was just poorly executed. With limited distribution and bland products, it should fade neatly into the background.

Meanwhile, we hold our breath to find out whether the done/not done deal between Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff is on/off or being agreed to over some turbo, frappe, latte macchiato coffee. Some may say, “Who cares?”, but if it really is not happening, then the silly season is about to go full Tonto!