Why Alpine is nervous about its distinctive 2026 F1 rear wing setup

When Alpine’s A526 hit the observe in Barcelona for ‘shakedown week’ on the finish of January, it didn’t take lengthy for eagle-eyed viewers to look at an uncommon attribute of the entrance wing. Despite the fact that just about the one exterior media current had been watching via binoculars from a succession of close by hills, often moved on by pointlessly heavy-handed safety.

‘Staff Enstone’ has a wealthy historical past of following its personal path, regardless that it has gone via a number of iterations of technical management since its glory days as Renault within the mid-2000s. It pioneered radically undercut sidepods, now a ubiquitous F1 automobile attribute; and underneath different names it launched eccentricities comparable to front-mounted exhausts (in the end moderately much less profitable).

Among the many uncommon options of the A526 is pull-rod entrance suspension, a arrange from which a number of different groups have moved away, and a rear wing flap that operates in the other way from others. When the energetic aerodynamics are deployed, the actuator pushes the rear of the flap downwards moderately than lifting the entrance of the flap upwards.

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Picture by: Steven Tee / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures

Although unlikely to be a game-changer, it naturally stands out as a degree of distinction, which can not essentially provide any enchancment.

Requested if the truth that no one else had taken this method made him nervous, Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen mentioned: “In fact it does. I do not know whether or not it is the precise one, or it might in all probability be a greater query to reply later within the season.

“However, while you’ve had the 12 months we had final 12 months, in fact you are taking consolation from issues which can be with the various…

“When one thing is uncommon… It doesn’t suggest it is flawed and we did that for our personal causes. However, in fact, you do suppose, ‘wow, that is not the identical.’

“It is an apparent distinction. However whether or not it is the precise route or the flawed route, who is aware of?”

Lando Norris, McLaren, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Picture by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures

Rear-wing actuation could seem to be a unnecessary piece of trivialities to train the thoughts, however truly the mechanics of the energetic aerodynamics might play into the broader image of aggressive distinction. A number of main engineers throughout completely different groups have identified that simulating the consequences of the energetic aero on efficiency elements comparable to tyre loadings and rear journey top has been very tough, as has precisely modelling phenomena comparable to stream reattachment when the wings shut.

All these elements have an effect on automobile steadiness and tyre life, in addition to having second-order results on stability because the energetic aero transitions between modes. Therefore a number of the working in the course of the shakedown and first take a look at has targeted on sensible measurement with flow-viz paint and pitot arrays.

That is the purpose of the season the place groups are starting to have a look at each other and determine what they may have missed. There will probably be a parallel course of during which groups are attempting to maximise their understanding of how their automobile works in actual phrases – whereas how different groups have approached the identical ruleset, and stealthily weighing up these options versus their very own, plus no matter they’ve within the improve pipeline.

“We’re evaluating the whole lot now. Completely the whole lot,” mentioned Nielsen. “Along with what we see on different vehicles. We see one thing, we mannequin it, we attempt to reproduce it.”

Images from Bahrain Pre-Season Testing – Day 3

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari