P1racenews AI automatic summary:
How under-the-skin changes can help Alpine overcome F1 engine deficit
The French manufacturer, Alpine, made the decision back in November 2022 to aggressively revamp its F1 car for the 2024 season. The A524, which is heavily revised, was recently unveiled at a launch event. Despite the improvements made, the team is aware that its engine is lacking power compared to its rivals, with an estimated deficit of up to 30bhp. Although an investigation by the FIA was conducted to determine if Alpine should be allowed to equalize its performance, no action was taken. However, Alpine has focused on improving areas that interact with the engine to potentially improve performance on track. This includes optimizing the installation of the power unit, integrating the tailpipe into the suspension to reduce pressure drop, moving the ERS unit rearwards for better weight distribution, and reducing the weight of transmission components. Additionally, Alpine has made important changes to how air flows inside the car to extract the most from the engine, particularly through the control of mass flow and optimization of cooling behavior.
