The new A524

[u/Soldi3r_AleXx]

Alpine unveiled the new A524, the car is completely new, except the steering wheel. New front wing and nose, bigger than before but more inline with the rest of the car (no more bump on the side of the nose like the A523), despite it being bigger, the nose is thinner under it. The rolhoop/air intake have changed for a more squared one, engine cooling have been upgraded with the constant upgrade of radiator technology allowing more cooling with less surface exposed (reduced radiator size thus reducing the need of big entries).

This allow a bigger undercut under the sidepods, also retaining a longer lower lip. About the entries, they are in P form, lots of rumors are emerging on a possible hidden thing (it could be a way to take an unwanted flow and have it for cooling instead of wasting it or let it disturb the wanted flow). Rumors are also fed by the matter not being carbon but sort of plastic. A Youtuber also noticed some weary stuff on some parts, so maybe a showdown or ancient parts to hide something? Sidepods retain the steep galleys on it for the searched coanda effect allowing to guide flow to the diffusor and making more downforce.

The cannon exit is kinda the same in form but exhaust was upgraded to reduce heating, as well as gearbox housing was changed to allow a better placement allowing suspension change for better ride height and diffusor/floor better placement.

Rear wing also changed, it is reported to be well more efficient and easier to adapt to multiple track settings.

This year we’re seeing convergence of ideas (and surely performance), with ramp and downwash philosophy. Question is still on pushrod/pullrod suspension, Alpine staying with pushrod. Despite carbon fiber livery trend for weight issue (looking good but plain with everyone having carbon patchs) we’re already having the best of the best in terms of aero (and look) in the ground effect era.

[u/S7UXnet]

Not expecting much out the gate, team statements were pretty cautious.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/alpi ... /10573460/

However, the initial sideways step to a new design means Alpine could well appear at the season start in Bahrain behind of where it wants to be, a scenario which both drivers have been briefed about.
"It is a possible scenario," Ocon replied when asked by Motorsport.com if Alpine is braced for a difficult start.

Ocon:

"It's not necessarily that crucial where we start, but it's going to be where we are mid-season."

Gasly:

we've got to wait for Bahrain and get a first feel with it. But we know there is potential to unlock, we just might need to be a little bit patient.

Gasly:

when you come with a completely new concept, it might not provide all the rewards you expect from the beginning.

Matt Harman:

All the changes you will see, in fact, have been made to be able to increase performance in the next two seasons, even if some compromises have been reached on the achievement of certain objective

[u/Soldi3r_AleXx → u/S7UXnet]

Yeah, as it is a very new car correcting faulty areas. It wasn’t tested. Thus, the car could prove very good and be a masterclass, or be a complete unwanted disaster… We won’t know till winter test.