Here's how Alpine’s strategic dilemma cost them Fuji victory
Alpine’s pursuit of dominance in the World Endurance Championship turned into a bittersweet afternoon at Fuji following a series of strategic decisions that cost the French manufacturer a near-certain win. Despite showing immense pace with their A424 LMDh prototypes, the team opted for team spirit over a singular aggressive push, a move that saw them narrowly miss out on the top step of the podium.
A Shift in Momentum
For much of the race, the Alpine duo appeared untouchable, holding the first and second positions heading into the final hour. However, the complexion of the race shifted dramatically following a violent crash involving the #58 McLaren LMGT3. The resulting safety car period, which lasted nearly 30 minutes, provided a golden opportunity for competitors to react.
While the #8 Toyota took advantage by short-fuelling and opting not to fit fresh tyres, Alpine chose a more conservative path. The team decided to box both cars simultaneously, fitting fresh rubber to both entries for the final sprint. This decision effectively cost them track position, leaving the #35 Alpine in third and the once-leading #36 Alpine in fifth.
The Cost of Team Spirit
Alpine’s sporting director, Nicolas Lapierre, admitted the decision was his own. He explained that the team prioritized not "sacrificing" one car to benefit the other.
“It's a bittersweet feeling because we put the car on the podium... But obviously having the cars in the front for most of the race, it is always disappointing not to win,” Lapierre stated. “We didn't want to sacrifice a car, so we boxed the two cars at the same time and therefore we lost time and we got overtaken by a few cars.”
The team's tactical options were further complicated by the pitlane layout, as the #36 car was positioned directly behind the #35 entry. Driver Victor Martins noted that the decision to fit tyres was also influenced by this arrangement, explaining that “we were not losing time because of the sister car; you need to pull back and then go [out] again.”
A Record-Breaking Close Finish
Despite the loss in position, Martins led a fierce charge in the #36 Alpine, ultimately catching the rear of Ryo Hirakawa’s Toyota. In what was the closest finish in WEC history, Martins fell just 0.591 seconds short of the victory.
While the #36 Alpine secured a hard-fought second place, the sister #35 entry finished fourth. Despite the frustration, the team remains encouraged by their performance, noting that the car feels like it is “on rails” as they continue to improve throughout the season.
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.