Last Updated on March 17 2024, 8:25 am

The downward spiral of Alpine in F1: Eddie Jordan’s scathing critique and predictions for the future, where speed, innovation and prestige reign supreme, the French team Alpine finds itself at a crossroads, struggling with performance issues and speculation over its future in the sport.

Eddie Jordan, to some a revered figure in the F1 community and former team principal, has openly expressed his dismay at Alpine’s current predicament, suggesting that the team’s days at the pinnacle of motorsport may be numbered.

 

Disappointing start to 2024

Alpine’s ambitions for the 2024 Formula One season were met with a harsh reality check from the outset. The season opener in Bahrain was a nightmare for the team, with both cars languishing at the back of the grid. The following race in Jeddah only added to their misery, with neither driver getting out of the first qualifying session (Q1) and Pierre Gasly’s race retiring on the first lap due to mechanical failure.

Jordan, speaking on the Formula For Success podcast, did not mince his words, describing Alpine’s performance as embarrassing.

“It’s absolutely embarrassing,” says Jordan in the Formula For Success podcast

The team, which once harboured ambitions of glory, now finds itself in what Jordan describes as a crisis among the paddock’s competitors.

“At the moment they are the team that is in the biggest crisis.” says the former boss.

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Turbulence since Renault’s return

It has been a turbulent journey since Renault re-entered the fray in 2016, with dreams of championship contention remaining elusive. Strategies that spanned five years and 100 races have been abandoned, signalling a deep-seated problem within the team’s operations.

The departure of team principal Otmar Szafnauer last summer, who was replaced by Bruno Famin, is a decision that Jordan criticises. He believes that Szafnauer’s early departure was a misstep, depriving the team of a leader capable of getting it back on track. Under new management, Alpine has seen the departure of key figures such as Matt Harman, head of engineering, and Dirk de Beer, head of aerodynamics, further destabilising the team’s foundations.

“I think they threw Otmar out too early at Alpine,” he says. “I think he’s a talented person who certainly knew how to lead this team in the right direction.”

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Rumour of a sale

Jordan’s outlook for Alpine’s future in F1 is bleak. He questions the team’s viability in the sport, going so far as to suggest that a sale is imminent. The Irishman believes that selling the team is “very possible”. Jordan, known for having a broad reach in the Formula 1 paddock has predicted many rumours that end up becoming true.

“With the current vision, do I still see Alpine [in Formula 1] next year? Absolutely not. No chance,” says Jordan.

However, the financial feasibility of acquiring a Formula One team, especially one valued at around one billion US dollars, remains a significant hurdle. Last year, 24% of Alpine Racing Limited was acquired by US investors for $200 million, a transaction that also involved Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds, but the question of who can afford to take over remains open.

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Renault’s waning commitment

At the heart of the problem, according to Jordan, is Renault’s diminishing commitment to its F1 endeavours. Despite being listed as one of six engine suppliers for the 2026 season, Jordan believes Renault is reluctant to invest further, particularly in engine development, citing the immense cost and effort involved.

“The development effort and costs are so high, it scares them – even though everyone talks about a team being worth a billion pounds.” says Jordan.

The current engine, perceived as the weakest link among its competitors, coupled with a lack of ambition to exploit regulatory loopholes for improvements, has led to scepticism about Renault’s commitment to its 2026 commitments.

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A call for reflection

For Jordan, Alpine’s plight goes beyond mere disappointment; it’s a “disgrace”. The inability to provide competitive machinery for talented drivers such as Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon is not just a failure, but an “unacceptable” dereliction of the team’s duty to its staff and the sport.

“I just feel like Alpine has been a disgrace in terms of not being able to give their drivers and their team a car that they can compete with in a world championship. That’s just unacceptable.”

As the Formula One community watches, Alpine’s journey serves as a cautionary tale of ambition colliding with reality, and the vital need for stable, visionary leadership in the pursuit of glory. The coming months could very well define Alpine’s legacy in F1, for better or worse.

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