Analysis | AlphaTauri sets its own course with AT04 and is not an RB18 copy

With the development of the new car, AlphaTauri hopes to improve three things: the car should be lighter and more aerodynamically efficient, as well as generate more downforce through a more effective ground effect.

The AT04 is, like all other teams, a further development of the previous car. In fact, the regulations have remained pretty much the same and so last winter they worked hard on the aspects that were lacking last year. According to technical director Jody Egginton, the AT03 in particular was too heavy, at the expense of downforce. Moreover, for this season, a lot of attention was paid to better packaging of all parts, for the sake of a more aerodynamically efficient overall package.

Ferrari sidepods

What stands out about the new AlphaTauri car are the wider sidepods. These were square last year, now more rounded. With this, it seems to go the way Ferrari also opted for in 2022, while Mercedes reportedly opts for very narrow sidepods again. Furthermore, the roll hoop has become a lot slimmer.

Furthermore, the AT04 also has ventilation panels at the rear of the chassis to ensure adequate cooling. Looking at the rear, AlphaTauri, like many other teams, has opted for a more square rear wing.

Not a copy of Red Bull

AlphaTauri will again use the same Honda powerplant, gearbox, hydraulics and rear suspension as Red Bull in 2023. The rest, however, the team will develop its own, as it has in recent years. So that means we will see a mix of Red Bull parts from 2022 and 2023 as well as many in-house developed components.

Egginton: "The collaboration will continue pretty much on the same basis as previous years. It is very advantageous for us and so we will continue it. For some of Red Bull's components, we are sticking to the same specifications as last year, some parts are new. The total number of parts we take from Red Bull is the same as last year. That has been a strategic choice."

The Italian formation has not chosen to blindly copy the successful RB18. AlphaTauri is building on its own car and philosophy. This is especially evident when looking at the front suspension (push rod). With the track rod attached to the rear, the suspension does not resemble Red Bull's (pull rod). Furthermore, the round nose stands out on the AT04, similar to what was seen earlier at Williams.

Longer wheelbase than last year

Based on the released photos, it looks like the front wheels are further forward, opting for a longer wheelbase. That would not be a crazy conclusion, as Egginton hinted back in 2022 that it would like to move the front suspension forward, to benefit considerably aerodynamically. Back then, however, there was no money for it because of the budget cap.

Many details are still missing and we will only see them for the first time during the test days in Bahrain. So AlphaTauri is not yet revealing everything the new 2023 car will have to offer next season.