FIA caused misunderstanding: 'I'm still annoyed'

Alpine had a strong year in Formula 1. The French formation finished fourth in the constructors' championship, staying ahead of rival McLaren. However, according to Pat Fry, it could have done even better, he told in an interview with The Race.

Several Formula 1 teams complained about floor deflection at the start of the season. The FIA therefore decided to change the regulations on the eve of the season start and allow a floor support. It caused Alpine to see a major advantage disappear.

Indeed, the team started cautiously and built a car with wide sidepods and a heavier floor. As a result, Alpine, along with Red Bull Racing, Williams and Aston Martin, were among the teams that suffered little to no problems with porpoising.

Fry still finds it incomprehensible that the FIA chose to accommodate the complaining teams. "I’m still annoyed that they allowed the extra floor stay a change of rules," the Alpine technical director told the British Medium.

He therefore believes the responsibility lay with the race stables. "We had designed a stiff floor. The others could have done that or they could have thrown kilos at it to fix it. It was a let-off for a lot of teams."