Famin Reveals Alpine's Internal Problem That Obstructs Team's Progress

Friday, 15 December 2023 at 01:00

Alpine's interim principal, Bruno Famin, revealed an internal problem between the two Alpine factories in Viry and Enstone, which stands in the way of the team's progress.

The Alpine F1 team, which finished sixth in the Constructors' Championship in 2023, has been struggling with progress for a couple of seasons.

If we count the years before it was rebranded from Renault to Alpine, the team has not finished better than fourth in the Championship for 12 seasons despite ambitious targets of competing for the title.

The team's interim principal, Bruno Famin, who stepped in from the position of vice president, identified that one of the main problems of the team is their two factories are not collaborating well enough. As quoted by motorsport.com, he said;

"When I arrived in Viry, a bit more than one and half years ago I remember that some guys, not everybody, were telling me we have only one customer team now. 'What? It's not a customer team, it's our team, it's our works team!'"

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The factory in Viry-Châtillon produces mainly power units for the Alpine team, while the facility in Enstone produces the chassis and the rest of the car. Famin described the problem is their two factories operate as if they didn't belong under the same team.

"And when I arrived in Enstone I was sometimes hearing that with a Mercedes engine we will go faster. Now okay, the Mercedes engine is 15 kilowatts more for sure, but with a Mercedes engine there will be just no project and no Enstone anymore..."

There is a complex history between the Renault group and the factory in Enstone that has been bought and sold multiple times. Famin believes the complicated relationship opposes synergy and makes things difficult.

"And it makes things difficult for sure. But you know, relations between the power unit factory and the chassis factory, you can see it everywhere, it's not specific to the Alpine project."

On the other hand, the team principal claims to have sorted things out and suggests everybody is on the same page now, which means Alpine can move forward.