The team Alpine Formula 1 lived a complicated Friday in the Japan Grand Prix. During the second free training session in the Suzuka circuit, Jack Doohan He starred in a strong accident that not only left his car destroyed, but could also compromise the budget and development of the team throughout the year.
Doohan, who had taken control of Alpine A525 after Ryo Hirakawa drove in the first essay, lost control of the car in curve one of the Japanese layout and violated violently against the defenses. Fortunately, the pilot came out unharmed, but The damage to the vehicle was considerable: the left side was completely shattered.
After the incident, the team director, OLIVER OKESHe explained that the accident was due to an oversight of the pilot himself, who did not close the DRS before starting to turn. “It was a mistake. Jack will learn from this, but now our team has a lot of work ahead to leave the car in conditions for Saturday”the British declared.
The situation was analyzed hard by Franz Tost, historical team chief in Formula 1, who described the error as “very serious.” Speaking to the Austrian ORF channel, Tost expressed his bewilderment. “No deceleration is seen before the curve. If it was a driving error, then it was a very serious one, I must say,” he said.
The biggest problem for the Esteone -based team is not only technical, but also financial. As Tost explained, Damage could represent between 300,000 and 1,500,000 euros, depending on the degree of impact on the monozygasco and the gearbox. “If you can save the monocasco and the box, it could cost between 300 and 400 thousand euros. If not, the cost is triggered. And in a formula 1 with budget limit, that is very serious,” he said.
The incident puts the French team in trouble, which was already facing challenges at the start of the season. Although they confirmed that they have the necessary spare parts to repair the car in time for the third practice, Unexpected costs could condition future technical improvements that were planned for the next major awards.
For now, Doohan will continue in competition, but both he and the team know that there is no room for more mistakes. Each accident is paid in Formula 1, and even more when the budget is already under pressure.
Source: Ambito
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