AlphaTauri has decided to bring a substantial floor upgrade to Abu Dhabi despite being the final race of the year.
Although a tough year for the Italian team, they have taken major steps in the final quarter of 2023.
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The team has had gradual floor upgrades and help from sister team Red Bull. Using rear suspension designs from its sister team, it has become a contender for points.
On top of this, the team has had a secure driver line-up in Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda.
While considered a minimum for F1 teams, AlphaTauri has struggled to find a driver line-up which can consistently deliver points.
However, since Austin, the team has scored 16 of the teams overall 21 points. This has seen the team move through the constructors standings to eighth with eyes now on Williams.
“Everyone’s motivated to chase down Williams to the line”
Although 7 points behind, the team believes it has an outside chance to steal seventh.
Speaking to Autosport, AlphaTauri CEO Peter Bayer said: “Everyone’s motivated to chase down Williams to the line and we have a big upgrade coming for Abu Dhabi, which we hope will give us the missing tenths to fight for some top positions.”
Although seemingly minor positions, the extra place could bring the team essential finance for next year.
However, Bayer and other members of the team were keen to enforce that the upgrade is mostly an “R and D exercise”.
AlphaTauri technical director, Jody Egginton, said: “It’s a floor and it’s about learning for next year. it’s not an R and D exercise than anything else.”
Bayer suggested that the upgrade had been expected to arrive in 2024. However, efficient factory work made Abu Dhabi an opportunistic moment to test the part.
While impressive, Bayer wanted to make clear the part won’t completely alter the team’s performance.
He said: “First of all it needs to work, but the data we’ve seen from CFD and the wind tunnel is very promising and will help us to find more. It’s all about balance, aerodynamic efficiency and rear downforce.”
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