Alpine F1 struggles: Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon speak out on A524 woes

He admits, the car has failed to meet expectations, leaving them languishing at the back of the pack.

Alpine, having clinched sixth place in the 2023 constructors' championship, embarked on a daring venture with the A524. Regrettably, the gamble has not paid off, with the car suffering from excess weight and a lack of power.

As the team prepares for the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix, they find themselves in a dire predicament, yet to secure a single championship point in the 2024 season.

Gasly's assessment of their situation is bleak, admitting that a monumental effort is required to salvage their fortunes in what he terms as the "second league."

"In the mid-term, we need a significant overhaul to enhance this car. The current concept falls short of our expectations," Gasly conceded to the media.

"Nevertheless, every incremental improvement, every ounce of progress we achieve each weekend brings us closer to potential points finishes."

Echoing Gasly's sentiments, Esteban Ocon highlighted the numerous shortcomings of the A524, describing its faults as pervasive.

"The issues are widespread, to be frank. We're struggling in several key areas, and there's no standout weakness or strength," Ocon elaborated during media discussions.

"It's a matter of striving for improvement across the board, consistently pushing to elevate our performance."

The upcoming F1 Chinese Grand Prix marks the fifth race of the 2024 season, scheduled for the weekend of April 19-21. 

This race inaugurates the Sprint format, wherein drivers will have a mere 60 minutes to acquaint themselves with the track before engaging in Sprint qualifying on Friday afternoon. The main event, consisting of 56 laps around the 5.451-kilometre Shanghai International Circuit, will unfold on Sunday, April 21.