In the design that was shown a while ago, some important changes were shown in the colors of the car, to announce the change from Renault to Alpine. But it was to be expected that it would undergo some changes with respect to the final decoration. And so it has been, blue has replaced the initial black, leaving a combination where blue predominates, along with white and red colors, as a symbol of the combination of the French and British flag for the history of this brand.
In addition to that change, the slogan "Allez les bleus!" for the Enstone-based group, where the chassis is developed, and Viry-Châtillon, where the Renault E-Tech 20B engine is developed. Although, as you know, at Enstone they have not been able to do more than optimize all the permitted areas with those two tockens, being a design almost identical to the Renault RS20, although we will see if from the engine side there are important evolutions such as important changes that have been announced from Ferrari, Mercedes and Honda. It is strange that the Gauls have been more silent in this regard, and I don't know if that is good or bad...
Another important novelty in the team is the signing of Russian pilot Daniil Kvyat, who was last year's pilot in Alpha Tauri. In this way, the group ensures an experienced driver who can replace one of the drivers in case something happens with the official drivers: Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon.
In this somewhat decaffeinated presentation due to the pandemic, it has also been missing Fernando Alonso, who has already confirmed that he would not attend the event of presentation. Probably to rest and continue with his training without losing time after his accident with the bicycle. Also keep in mind that he has been away from Formula 1 for two years, so he has to work harder than any other driver, and if you add age to that, it won't be easy...
Where it will be is in the pre-season tests, where it will make contact with the car for the first time. Until then, he has only been able to shoot something with the old Renault car to de-rust and become aware of some basic operations. It will be necessary to see if having passed through IndyCar, Dakar, WEC, and also Daytona has served to return as a more complete driver, and if he could help F1 in something.
front area
The front of the Alpine A521 it looks virtually unchanged from the Renault RS20. The front wing looks quite conventional, without very flashy things. Neither in the area of the flaps at their internal end nor in the area where they are anchored in their external area in the endplates. Therefore, not too many interesting things in that place. In addition, it must be taken into account that the limitations of this year have blocked development, being able to touch only those areas where they had the most deficiencies.
El nose is a solution practically traced to that of Mercedes. They have copied the nose of the Germans, as have McLaren and Red Bull, although in the energy drink team they have distanced themselves more with that nose with the conspicuous air channels. In the case of the Alpine A521, the nose is very rounded, similar to that of the Mercedes, and almost identical to the new one on this year's McLaren.
On the nose you can also see the S-Duct, and that thinning in the nose that arises just where the cone is anchored to the cockpit. just like those canards or side fins above the nose, and the profiles under the nose to generate an air channel to redirect it towards the rear area. That is to say, in short, it is a nose almost equal to that of Mercedes and McLaren.
The front suspension wishbone anchors They have also anchored in a higher area, almost on the edge of the nose, as in the case of Red Bull, McLaren, or Mercedes. This was something that could also be seen in last year's design. The Alpine A521 brake cooling ducts also remain the same, with the design that ended last season on the RS20.
The pontoons and airbox openings, also follow the same silhouette as last year, although a certain redesign can be seen in the pontoon radiator inlets, now in a higher area. They are quite small, but the airbox opening is still striking, which is still very wide and flattened, with other extra holes under this main intake, just behind the pilot's helmet. Also, the flow dividers inside the channel are different, with two new ducts.
Middle area
In the Middle area, there are practically no changes with respect to last year. The only noticeable difference is the work on the flat bottom that was done to be able to adapt to the new standards, i.e. reduce the surface of the flat bottom in the area just in front of the rear tire, and simplify the complexity of the bottom, without those profiles, flanges, grooves, etc., that appeared last year.
that has made them lose downforce, as it happens to the rest of the grill. We will see if any team has been able to do something to alleviate these effects or if it affects everyone equally. It is difficult for someone to have taken something magical, or take advantage of a loophole in the technical regulations, since the changes that are allowed this year are minimal. However, those who had better downforce last year will have a bit of an advantage this year. In fact, those who suffered last year, if they have not corrected it, it is likely that this year they will have problems and have to put more wings than the rest to alleviate that deficiency...
As was the case with the Mercedes W12, the Alpine A521 not much has changed with respect to the car from two seasons ago, that is, with respect to the W10 and Renault RS19 respectively. This does not have to be bad, but it is an indication that big changes should not be expected. Some already announce podiums, victories and others for Fernando Alonso, but you have to keep your feet on the ground.
Where if changes are appreciated it is in the middle area it is the area just in front of the pontoons, in the lower area. Where the bargeboards have been added a drawer in the lower area in the style of Mercedes. The engine cover has also been tightened a bit more under the sidepods, and under the side of the airbox.
Rear area
La rear area of the car also continues almost unchanged. With the same line of pontoons and engine fairing, and similar brake ducts, the same rear wing, with the two central supports and the double T-Wing that were already mounted last year, etc. Of course, it seems that the lower area of the pontoons seems more excavated, generating a larger air channel towards the rear area, that is, between the intake of the pontoons and the ground, thus bringing more air to the upper area of the diffuser.
Important change in the rear suspensions. They seem to have copied the concept of the Mercedes and Red Bull, that is, very short and retracted arms that rest directly on the gearbox subframe. Something that has a direct effect on aerodynamics and also on vehicle dynamics. The effect on the diffuser is especially important, generating a kind of virtual “double diffuser”. Something that could somewhat alleviate the loss due to the remodeling of the floor.
In this image above you can see well what I have commented on the soil. You can see that this piece of carbon fiber sticking out from the sides is now plain, tapering as it approaches the rear tires, as if it had been cut diagonally. That will introduce more turbulence under the flat bottom, and the diffuser will lose efficiency.
El hind wing and its endplates they are also the same. In fact, last year we already saw very similar endplates to those of Mercedes, and this year they continue to be so. With those cuts and three vertical profiles in the middle area.
In the image it is also intuited that the Alpine engine continues with the waste gates (those lateral exhaust pipes), they continue to be mounted on the sides, and not above or below as has been seen in other bikers... It remains to be seen what changes are under the hood, whether the power unit has been greatly improved like the rest or not.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this third stage of Fernando Alonso with the Gauls it will not be easy. I think Alonso is thinking more about 2022 with the big changes than this year, which is probably a simple transition to get back in shape and take it as preparation for next season. The president of the brand and Alonso already said that they did not expect great things for this year, which was a transition period.
Also, as I have repeated, we have to wait to see if the engine has really improved or if the lack of news is because they haven't made any big changes. If they have simply kept quiet because they have something on their hands, it will be good news for this and next season, since the current engines will freeze. Otherwise, whoever is left behind now will also suffer in the coming years… So, be careful with being able to maintain more or less the same performance of the engines before the freeze.
We know that Ferrari seems to have made some promising changes, Honda has also given everything to bid farewell to Formula 1 in a big way, and Mercedes has also made changes. It is not known how far each has progressed, but I hope that Alpine has been able to improve along. And, if they have, let's see if they don't cause reliability problems like at the beginning of this season when they changed the architecture of their engine.
If we pull the newspaper library, Remi Taffin said last year thatThis will be the last year for this family of engines that we started two years ago. It is therefore an evolution with all the work we did during 2019. There will not be many evolutions during the year, because we want to focus on the 2021 power unit soon.» I hope that this is the case and the change is positive.
On the other hand, you already know that Alpine confirmed at the beginning of the year a four-year contract for the construction and assembly of the engine V6 Turbo Hybrid together with its historical partner, which supplies parts such as pistons, Meachrome. This is not a step forward, it is simply a continuation of what they were already doing up to now…