Pat Fry, former technical director of Alpine, believes that the French team lacks determination

Alpine has undergone numerous changes since 2020. The former team known as Renault DP World F1 Team began its transition starting from the Covid season. The most significant changes took place at the beginning of the 2021 season. The team was renamed « Alpine F1 Team » from that point onward. During this year, 2023, the team has made new drastic changes. In addition to the departure of team principal Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane, Alpine announced the end of its collaboration with technical director Pat Fry.

The former technical director made the decision to bounce back to Williams starting from this season. After three years at « Renault-Alpine », the British engineer felt that the French team lacked enthusiasm and determination.

Progress but a lack of determination

Pat Fry has felt progress within Alpine. The French team notably achieved a victory with Esteban Ocon at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, revived Fernando Alonso’s career in F1, and finished several times in 4th place in the constructors’ championship. “I look back and we have dramatically improved the team,” he said in Autosport. “Year after year, we have built a better car. If you put them side by side, each one was a huge step forward. It’s a credit to everyone there, the different teams worked much better together. I think everyone there should be proud of what we have accomplished. I suppose I came back there to take it where it needed to be. And I think we did it really well. From a distant fifth place, we were a solid fourth.”

However, despite this satisfaction, Pat Fry believes that the team has reached its glass ceiling and does not seem ready to surpass it. « I did not feel the enthusiasm or determination to progress beyond fourth place, lamented the 59-year-old engineer. « I decided in early March that I wanted to move things forward. I don’t want to just stay there without being able to make things evolve. For me, it was the time to stop and move on. I think as a company, they were barely ready to push hard enough. You can say you want to be the first, but the difference between saying it and accomplishing it is monumental. »

The Renault group not invested enough

The issue raised by Pat Fry would come from the parent team, the company « Renault ». Despite this new Alpine project launched in 2021, the resources allocated would remain insufficient. The group aspires to compete at the top but does not provide all the necessary conditions.

« We were able to control the destiny of Enstone, he testified. « I think we did a good job. I’m not sure Otmar Szafnauer had a fair chance to fix the team. To some extent, metaphorically speaking, I think his hands were tied. It’s always sad to leave. But I believe I had taken them as far as I could. »

New challenge at Williams

After a few weeks of hesitation, following his departure from Alpine during the summer, Pat Fry has finally decided to join Williams. The engineer has been in discussions with Williams director James Vowles for two months. “What excites me about this opportunity is that the board of directors is fully on board with what it will take to improve the team,” explained the former technical director of Ferrari. “They are ready to invest what is needed and support us in building a team. It’s nice to rebuild an old British icon. It’s a bit like my romantic vision of returning to Benetton, rebuilding them. It’s another exciting perspective.”

Pat Fry added: « James is making great efforts to try to improve this place. As I said, the board fully supports him in moving things forward. We will not be limited in what we can achieve. We just need to do our best within the allotted time and make progress.

« Williams » currently holds the 7th position in the constructor’s standings before the last Grand Prix of the 2023 season. For the upcoming season, the British team will be able to rely on their star driver, « Alexander Albon ».