Why Alpine is ‘nervous’ about Spa chances despite Hungary F1 win

F1 reconvenes from its summer break this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps with Alpine heading to Belgium off the back of Esteban Ocon’s shock maiden victory at the Hungarian GP.

But Alpine sporting director Alan Permane does not expect his side to repeat its Budapest success in Belgium, with the team wary the long nature of the power sensitive circuit could expose the weaknesses of its A521 car.

Prior to its Alpine rebrand, the team finished fourth and fifth at last year’s Belgian GP when it raced as Renault.

Asked whether Alpine thinks it has taken a step forward compared to its midfield rivals following the team’s first win since 2013, Permane replied: “I don’t think so unfortunately.

“I think if you look at where we were in qualifying - this track [Budapest] we felt would suit us, I think we are where we are. We will continue learning the car and we will continue improving it, but only by small amounts like others will do theirs.

“The next race is a tough one, it’s a long quick track and we’re a bit nervous about that in the race. We don’t feel we have the same performance on those very long tracks - the high-energy demand tracks.”

The Anglo-French squad currently sits fifth in the constructors’ championship with 77 points, nine points clear of nearest rival AlphaTauri.

Permane, who has worked at Enstone since the start of his F1 career in 1989, believes the team’s victory in Hungary was “undoubtedly” one of its best.

"They are all special, they are always special,” he explained.

“It is a long time since we won a race, I think someone said to me Melbourne 2013, I think I was on the podium then so that was very nice as well.

“But this is very special as well, of course the first year of Alpine and it just, it just you know, coming together for them, plenty of new people here, new motivation and so it always helps.”