04 March 2024 , 07:00
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The Alpine F1 team - which includes Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds among its group of celebrity investors - has had a nightmare start to the new season and now seen two key members of the team depart.
Reynolds got involved in Formula 1 as part of a group of investors who purchased a 24% equity stake in Alpine Racing. However, his first full season with a vested interest in the sport hasn't got off to a good start.
Drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon both finished outside the points in the first race of the season in Bahrain. And according to RacingNews365, they're also preparing for the departures of technical director Matt Harman and head of the aerodynamics department Dirk de Beer.
It's reported they decided to leave several weeks ago and will depart the team in April. It adds a new challenge for the French team, who are facing challenges getting their new car up to a competitive standard.
EHarman and de Beer chose to leave before Alpine showed off their new car, the A524, which Gasly and Ocon drove this weekend. Before the race in Bahrain, both drivers were critical of the car compared to their rivals.
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"I think the other teams have improved significantly more than we expected," Ocon said. "Unfortunately, you can never predict something like that with any precision.
"There's one problem that's bigger than the others. We were able to solve the smaller things during the test. The balance isn't actually that bad. But it will take time for us to get back on track. We recognised early exactly what we need to work on, and have passed this on to Enstone and Viry."
Ocon's words came after he asked for patience with Alpine's new car for this season. At 27, he has plenty of experience and knows the team must learn as the season progresses to get the most out of their machine.
"We don't know exactly," Ocon admitted. "You guys [the media] are selling it [as] the worst. It is a possibility because we haven't pulled it together with everyone else. But it's not over.
Matt Harman has stepped down with Alpine's new car looking off the pace ((Image: Getty))"There are still going to be things to play for this year. And I need to keep on pushing. Because if you start that low, and with how you guys are speaking, I can quit and just exit the paddock right now. But no, that's not who I am."
Besides the car issues, Alpine needs to decide who will take over from Harman and de Beer. The last few years have seen many changes in the team's management.
In July 2023, team boss Otmar Szafnauer and sports director Alan Permane left their jobs, along with technical chief Pat Fry. Earlier in the year, Laurent Rossi was also let go as CEO.
The Alpine F1 team, backed by Hollywood, seems to be heading for a tough time in the 2024 season. Reynolds, who has put a lot of money into the team, will be eager to see some good results soon.
Despite the team's troubles, drivers Gasly and Ocon are hoping to do well at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah on March 9.