During the recent Canadian Grand Prix, a concerning incident unfolded as McLaren driver Lando Norris observed Alpine driver Esteban Ocon’s rear wing wobbling heavily for several laps. Expressing apprehension over potential hazards, Norris conveyed his concerns to his team via radio, highlighting the dangers associated with a loose rear wing.
Despite the alarming situation, neither Alpine nor the International Automobile Federation (FIA) opted to call Ocon into the pits for repairs. This season, the responsibility lies with the teams to assess the safety of their cars, even if certain parts are broken or loose.
Addressing the issue, Alpine Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer has asserted that the team was confident in the stability of the wing. The rear wing in question was a new addition introduced by Alpine for the Canadian Grand Prix. Szafnauer emphasized that the team had meticulously designed and constructed the wing, thus possessing a thorough understanding of its performance.
“We designed and built this wing, so we knew what was going on. And we were glad it wouldn’t come loose,” Szafnauer told Motorsport.com. “We test this in research and development. We put it through these tests simply because of the way it’s mounted and we’re therefore seeing these types of modes and understanding whether or not it’s going to come loose.”
Although the FIA did approach the team in their garage to discuss the matter, Alpine confidently explained why they believed the wing did not pose a safety risk.
Szafnauer confirmed the interaction, stating, “The FIA came up to us and said it looks like your rear wing is moving and we looked at that and talked about it. We were confident that it would be okay with a few laps to go.”
Fortunately, the rear wing remained intact throughout the race, allowing Ocon to finish in eighth place. However, Szafnauer admitted uncertainty about whether the issue hindered Ocon’s ability to challenge Alex Albon for seventh place.
Acknowledging the potential impact on underbody aerodynamics due to the beam wing issue, Szafnauer noted, “We just looked at the aero data. The aerodynamicists say it wasn’t anything big, but it could also have an impact on the underbody aerodynamics because it was a beam wing issue – and they work together.”
Szafnauer believes that the struggle to overtake Williams’ car was primarily attributable to increased drag, despite Alpine’s significant lap time advantage. This drag issue restricted Ocon’s ability to make a successful passing maneuver.
“In the end, we were probably six or seven tenths a lap faster than him. But despite the seven-tenths and the DRS, we couldn’t overtake them because they had so little drag,” Szafnauer explained.
The incident at the Canadian Grand Prix has highlighted the complexities involved in assessing the safety of car components during Formula 1 races. While Alpine remained confident in the security of Ocon’s rear wing, the episode serves as a reminder of the meticulous considerations teams must undertake to ensure driver safety without compromising performance.
