EXCLUSIVE: ‘There will be consequences’ – Furious Rossi demands Alpine improve fast after stuttering start to 2023

Alpine’s development rate in 2022 was aggressive, relentless and efficient – and that helped see off the challenge of McLaren to snatch P4 in the constructors’ championship. That was one place better than the previous campaign and positioned the French manufacturer as the best-placed team to challenge the mighty top-three of Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes.

Fourth followed fifth in 2021 and put them a step closer to achieving their target of becoming regular podium contenders within four years. The Oscar Piastri saga was behind them. Race winner Pierre Gasly had joined and Esteban Ocon had played a big role in the team taking that P4. It felt like a page had been turned. Renault CEO Luca de Meo and Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi were happy with the progress. The plan, it seemed, was working.