Alps changes Alonso’s engine in Jeddah

Alpine has taken a precautionary measure ahead of free practice at the Saudi Grand Prix in Jeddah. In the power unit used by Fernando Alonso in Bahrain last week, the French team in particular replaced the internal combustion engine (ICE). The reason for this was the suspicion of a sealing problem, and Alpine preferred not to risk the weekend. The double world champion also uses new turbos, new MGU-H, new MGU-K and new exhausts.

After the Bahrain Grand Prix, we identified a suspected sealing issue in the power unit of Fernando’s car.Albin says. “As a precaution, the internal combustion engine for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has been replaced, and the block used in Bahrain has been returned to Viry for further analysis”.

Viry-Châtillon engineers will look into it once the engine is restored, because the goal is to be able to tune it without losing this element in the season’s quota. If ICE’s substitution does not include any penalty this weekend in Fernando Alonso’s grandmother, it will be necessary to reclaim the first block that has been used this season in hopes of not getting into such a predicament later in the year.

It will be reincorporated into the engine package for use later in the season.Already contemplate the Alps on Friday. Fernando won’t get a penalty this weekend, and the internal combustion engine is in Esteban [Ocon] She was not affected by this problem.”

Alpine put its A522 on points last week, at Sakhir, while the competition’s tri-color team opened a completely redesigned power unit over the winter. The Enstone team assumes the risks involved in pre-season performance, and the potential consequences for reliability, knowing the engines are frozen but could be improved during the year for only one reason of reliability and because of the agreement of the other competitors.

Changes in the elements are also to be noted in Red Bullwhere Sergio Perez has a new turbocharged engine and a new MGU-H, as well as in the AlphaTauri, where Pierre Gasly benefits from a fully renewable power unit.