F1 struggles could mean Alpine ‘will soon quit’ the sport

Alpine’s ongoing struggles in Formula 1 may result in Renault opting to pull the plug on the project.

That is the view of racing driver Tom Coronel, who highlighted the squad’s lack of progress toward the front of the field despite continued investment.

Renault returned to the grid in 2016 and displayed steady growth in its first years, peaking with fourth in the 2018 constructors’ championship.

In 2021 it rebranded to Alpine and managed to take to the top step of the podium in Hungary that year before bagging another fourth place championship result in 2022.

After slipping back to sixth during last year’s campaign, Alpine has endured a disastrous start to the current season and is languishing at the bottom of the standings following four rounds.

The car is notably struggling with traction as well as being overweight, with Coronel expressing his dismay after viewing onboard of Pierre Gasly’s car in Japan.

“It was really sad,” Coronel stated, speaking on a RacingNews365 podcast.

“I saw the drive from Gasly, then I joined the onboard and then on the footage you see the moving of that car.

“He was really struggling, it was not normal. You just see that car moving non-stop, zero balance – [it’s] really bad.”

‘It could be that Renault will quit’

Alpine has endured a difficult 12 months with a series of exits occurring at the team, including team principal Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane during last year’s Belgian Grand Prix.

RacingNews365 exclusively revealed during the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix that technical director Matt Harman and head of aerodynamics Dirk de Beer resigned from their positions.

Coronel called for stability within the team but fears Renault may opt to pull out of F1 amid the ongoing problems.

“It’s not just about the drivers – try to get some stability in that team first,” he said. “Before they start scoring again, it’s going to take a lot of time and money.

“And does Alpine want that? We have to remember that Alpine, Renault and the French parent company had expected them to be driving at the top of the field by now.

“They are only going further back and not with small steps. They are really just filling a grid position at the moment and of course that was never the intention.

“It could just be that Renault will soon quit.”