Alpine had its most successful weekend of the 2024 Formula 1 season at the recent Chinese Grand Prix after implementing its first major upgrade. Although Esteban Ocon’s 11th place may not seem impressive, it shows that the struggling team is capable of making progress. Ocon was the only driver to benefit from the upgrade package as the team accelerated its production to have it ready for the race in China. The upgrade included a new chassis and modifications to the diffuser, floor edges, and front floor wing. These changes also contributed to weight reduction, making the car lighter and improving downforce. Alpine aims to reach its target weight soon, potentially in time for the Canadian Grand Prix in June.
In China, Alpine showed its best performance so far this season, with Ocon leading the way. Even Gasly, who did not have the upgrade, was relatively competitive in the older car and supported his teammate with a 13th place in the race. Ocon acknowledged that while the weight reduction was beneficial, there are still doubts about the aerodynamic performance. The team needs a more in-depth analysis to determine if the upgrade provided a clear advantage in terms of performance. The upgrade was part of the team’s routine aerodynamic development and not a reaction to the poor start of the season.
Despite not scoring points yet, Alpine is aiming to secure sixth place in the championship this year. Gasly believes that the team can now compete in the midfield based on the performance of the upgraded car and his own performance. He believes that the upgrade has brought them closer to the competition and, although they are not fighting for top positions, they can at least aim for small points.
The update introduced by Alpine in China focused mainly on the outer edge of the floor. Changes were made to the camber in the longitudinal side wing section, as well as in the mounting brackets. These adjustments aimed to optimize the airflow and improve the development of the flow structure. The floor and the small upturned section of the floor work together to extract the airflow from under the front corner of the floor, while the diffuser increases the flow speed. A longitudinal slot gap helps seal the floor, and a small duct allows the flow to be pulled into the rear tire. This flow, along with the airflow over the floor section in front of the rear tire, reduces the amount of airflow being pulled into the floor. The splitter on the front cutout of the floor edge also underwent a slight profile change to improve the initial vortex. Alpine also made changes to the flow distribution under the front edge, modifying the profile of the internal splitter. These changes aim to increase the flow speed from front to back and, consequently, increase the downforce created by the floor. It is still early to determine if these changes are an advancement, and Alpine will need a few more races to optimize the update and evaluate its development direction.
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Portugal defeats Spain in an exciting game
Portugal and Spain faced each other in a breathtaking game last Wednesday. The match, which took place at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, ended with Portugal’s victory by 2-1.
The Portuguese national team started the game with a lot of pressure and quickly opened the scoring with a beautiful goal from Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Spain did not let themselves be discouraged and managed to equalize still in the first half, with a goal from Sergio Ramos from a penalty.
In the second half, both teams continued to seek the winning goal, but it was Portugal who managed to score again. Bernardo Silva scored the second goal for the Portuguese national team and secured the victory.
With the result, Portugal remains undefeated this season and consolidates as one of the main teams in European football. Meanwhile, Spain, despite the loss, showed a good performance and promises to be a tough opponent in the upcoming games.
The match was also marked by some controversies, with complaints from both teams about the refereeing. However, the game was highly contested and exciting, providing a spectacle for the fans present at the stadium.
Now, Portugal is getting ready to face the French national team in a friendly match next month. On the other hand, Spain will face Germany in a match valid for the Nations League.
Portuguese fans are excited about the victory over Spain and hope that the team maintains a good performance in the upcoming games. Meanwhile, the Spanish, despite the defeat, are confident in a recovery and believe in the team’s potential.
The next encounter between the two teams promises to be another exciting match, with lots of rivalry and competition on the field. Football fans cannot miss it!
