Alpine to introduce upgrade package at Imola to address new car weaknesses
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12:34
Alpine has confirmed it is to introduce a new aerodynamic upgrade package for this weekend s second Formula 1 race of the season in Imola as it seeks to address the weaknesses of its new car.
After enjoying an intense midfield battle with McLaren and Racing Point last season in the team s former guise as Renault, Alpine was off the pace in the opening race in Bahrain.
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Although the returning Fernando Alonso qualified ninth, the
Alpine executive director Marcin Budkowski has conceded there was understandable disappointment at the team s failure to score points in Bahrain, which he hopes will be addressed in the upcoming Emilia Romagna GP.
Lando Norris has defended Nikita Mazepin after the Russian received abuse from fans of the McLaren driver on a Twitch stream recapping the Bahrain Grand.
Ferrari claim it is still a long way from F1 podium
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Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto believes the Scuderia remains a long way from a Formula 1 podium.
The team made an encouraging start to the new season with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finishing sixth and eighth in the Bahrain Grand Prix, with the former 22 seconds adrift of third-placed Valtteri Bottas in his Mercedes.
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Binotto has already made clear
That leaves Ferrari in a fight with its midfield rivals to battle over the few opportunities likely to be presented in the remaining 22 races.
Asked directly as to how long the team will have to wait for a podium with the current SF21, Binotto replied: It s the gap we are still missing to the top competitors which in the race [in Bahrain] was still big, so it s still a long way. It will also depend on track to track.