Alpine F1 car upgrade made Japanese GP “pure pleasure”

Alpine introduced the heavily revised floor in Singapore, while knowing that any gains wouldn’t necessarily be maximised on the bumpy street track.

The early debut did at least allow the team to learn about the update and make the most of it at Suzuka, a track with the sort of fast corners where it was expected to provide a clear benefit.

With Ocon taking fourth, Alpine’s best finish of the season, and team-mate Fernando Alonso in seventh having just lost out…