After the fourth race of the season, a clear pecking order is beginning to emerge across the grid.
Ferrari have closed the gap to Red Bull at the front of the grid but Christian Horner’s team still have an advantage as they secured their third one-two of the season.
Speaking on Ted’s Notebook after the race, Ted Kravitz suggested that the pressure is beginning to build at the other end of the paddock.
Sunday’s race in Suzuka produced a fascinating tactical battle for both a place on the podium and the minor points.
McLaren’s Lando Norris may be left wondering for the second race in succession whether his team on the pit wall made the right calls.
Ferrari ended up comfortably finishing third and fourth with Charles Leclerc absolutely nailing his strategy.
Mercedes attempted a one-stop strategy after the red flag but both drivers were struggling to keep up with their rivals and once again had to settle for a disappointing points tally.
However, they’re all faring better than the three teams who are still without a point at this stage of the season.
Alpine are one of those three manufacturers and Ted Kravitz believes their team principal Bruno Famin is going to be heavily scrutinised soon.
The work they did over the winter appeared to be a big step backwards compared to 2023.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage
Ted Kravitz thinks Alpine boss Bruno Famin is under ‘immense pressure’
It’s hard to take many positives from the 2024 season for Alpine this season.
Esteban Ocon was absolutely elated on Saturday just because he advanced to Q2 in qualifying.
His teammate Pierre Gasly has been eliminated in the first session of qualifying at every race this season and was suffering from huge losses of downforce throughout Sunday’s race.
Alpine made big changes to their senior management less than 12 months ago but already Kravitz believes that Famin is going to be feeling the heat.
Renault won’t want to settle for being backmarkers for long and the team are in a terrible state considering their one of the few works cars on the grid.
READ MORE: Alpine driver Esteban Ocon’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Bruno Famin feeling the heat from Renault
Speaking about the situation at Alpine, Kravitz said: “But, you’ve got to say, I spoke to Bruno Famin the Alpine team boss on Friday, he is going to be coming under immense pressure as the man responsible for this very slow car.
“He explained it by saying the usual stuff that we’ve heard before which is that they’re changing processes and changing design concepts that is true but it doesn’t mean that the pressure will be any less on the boss because Luca de Meo and Renault who own this team all want performance and answers.
“They’re not in Renault, they’re not in this Formula 1 lark to finish 15 and 16. I know that sounds obvious, but it’s true.”
READ MORE: Alpine driver Pierre Gasly’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
What are the next steps for Alpine?
Bruno Famin might be under pressure to save his job at Alpine as Kravitz suggests, but he’ll need to be preparing for 2025 and beyond as if he’s still going to be team principal for the foreseeable future.
Both Ocon and Gasly are out of contract from the end of the year and there’s been a suggestion that they’re tempted to split the pairing up for next year.
Ocon still has a connection with Mercedes and could end up being a stop-gap at the team to replace Lewis Hamilton while they wait to see if Kimi Antonelli is the long-term solution.
He could be competing with his fellow Frenchman for that seat as Pierre Gasly has been linked with a move to the Silver Arrows.
Unfortunately, the Renault-backed outfit isn’t an attractive prospect for drivers outside of the team for 2025.
The post ‘You’ve got to say’: Ted Kravitz now believes that 62-year-old team principal is under ‘immense pressure’ appeared first on F1 Oversteer.