Why Alpine faces the same junior problem as Ferrari

When Mick Schumacher lines up on the grid for his Formula 1 debut next month in Bahrain, he will do so after overcoming some fierce competition last year.

Not only did Schumacher race against a really strong Formula 2 grid, capturing the title at the final round in Bahrain, but he also emerged from a gaggle of competitive youngsters within Ferrari to claim a seat with Haas.

Ferrari always downplayed the idea of a junior 'problem' through 2020, stressing that having five drivers placed in F2 was no bad thing. But the fact that Callum Ilott, the runner-up to Schumacher, is now facing a year on the sidelines as a test driver, proves there weren't enough seats to go around for those deserving of a step up.

One benefit Ferrari did enjoy was the presence of customer teams on the F1 grid. It ensured Schumacher could be placed at Haas, while Antonio Giovinazzi - also under its wing - will enter a third season with Alfa Romeo this year. Room can be made should it look to place the likes of Ilott or F2 returnees Robert Shwartzman and Marcus Armstrong in F1 in the near future.

But as Ferrari's 'issue' becomes less pronounced, another F1 team could face an even bigger problem with its youngsters moving forward.

As part of Renault's widespread F1 rebranding as Alpine for 2021, the new Alpine Academy was launched earlier this month ahead of the coming season, confirming which youngsters would be supported in the junior categories by the French marque.

Five drivers will be on Alpine's junior books this year as the incumbent quartet of Guanyu Zhou, Christian Lundgaard, Oscar Piastri and Caio Collet are joined by Victor Martins, who returns to the Enstone fold after a year away. Zhou and Lundgaard will both be back in F2, entering their third and second campaigns respectively at the level, with F3 champion Piastri also stepping up.

Zhou had been tipped as the title favourite entering the 2020 season, only to endure a difficult campaign as he ultimately finished sixth in the standings. Although he was able to score his maiden win in the Sochi sprint race, the Chinese driver admits that it "hurts" to have seen a strong start to the year tail off and fail to play any role in the title race.

Now entering his third season in F2 with front-running outfit UNI-Virtuosi, Zhou recognises a championship bid is really the minimum requirement. "That's exactly the target for this year, to try and win the title," he says. "Definitely to be a title contender is the key but, if not, to finish top three. We saw in the past that drivers who finished in the top three in the Formula 2 championship, they are in F1 the following year. It's a high level championship to be showing your potential and, if you're capable to do it, and I think I'll have chance to be stepping up."

Zhou also has the hopes of a nation resting on his shoulders. China has been waiting for a long time for its first full-time F1 driver, with Zhou being its strongest bet yet. The significance of his success is not lost on Alpine Academy director Mia Sharizman.

With McLaren switching to Mercedes power units for 2021, there are no longer any customer Renault teams on the grid or squads with any links to Alpine's own projects

"We started off the project [with Zhou] three years ago always with the aim that by the end of his three-year tenure here in the academy, he was always a once-in-a-generation project," says Sharizman.

"We will never see another Chinese driver for the next 15-20 years, whether in Formula 4, Formula 3 or Formula 2. I think that is something that from the team itself, from Alpine, from the Renault Group, from the Alpine F1 team, we are committed to make sure that happens in the future."

But, while Zhou is by now used to learning year-on-year in the same category, it is a new prospect for Lundgaard. The Danish youngster's progression up the ladder has been rapid, given he was racing in F4 just three years ago. This season will mark the first time since moving into car racing that he is staying at the same level.

"The last time I did that was in karting," Lundgaard says. "In my single-seater career, obviously it's my first time. That's what I'm looking forward to the most, to see what I can improve on and how far all of my preparations have gone, how much I have actually improved."

The only rookie for Alpine in F2 this year will be Piastri, whose graduation came as something of a surprise. The plan was to spend two years in F3 before moving up, only for Piastri to win the title at the first attempt for Prema, who he will remain with for 2021.

"It is a big learning curve," says Piastri, whose career is being overseen by compatriot Mark Webber. "There are pitstops in the races - I have never done a pitstop before, so that is something I have got to get used to. It is a new format for everyone, which sort of works a bit in my favour.

"I think I can definitely challenge for race wins, the championship we will have to wait and see. I said the same thing for F3 and that turned out alright. But I'm not really putting too much pressure on myself to achieve anything extraordinary in my first year."

PLUS: Why Piastri's F3 title was better than results suggested

Three juniors, all of whom have designs on the title and a graduation to F1 in the future. But will there be room for them?

With McLaren switching to Mercedes power units for 2021, there are no longer any customer Renault teams on the grid or squads with any links to Alpine's own projects. Whereas Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari are all defining possible routes up the grid that lead to their senior team, Alpine seems to only have its two seats on offer.

And that isn't even a sure thing should any of the three drivers in F2 this year go on to win the title. Fernando Alonso is making his F1 comeback on a two-year deal and, while Esteban Ocon may be out of contract at the end of the year, he would surely be a strong long-term option for the squad to work with.

Sharizman is understanding of the problem that lies ahead - and acknowledges the parallels with Ferrari. But he sees Zhou, Lundgaard and Piastri as being at different stages in their careers.

"You have Zhou in his third year, Christian in his second year, and obviously Oscar is a rookie," he says. "It's a slightly different proposition, and a different way of planning. Having said that, yes, Christian and Zhou, and Oscar to be honest with you no less, all are competing for podiums and wins, and ultimately at the end of the day, we'll see towards the end of the year, championships.

"Yes, it will bring the situation similar to what Ferrari has gone through last year. We have to have a Plan A and a Plan B already. That is something that is in the back of our mind."

Sharizman does not see the lack of Alpine links to other F1 teams as a problem, saying conversations are already underway about possible options. "Without a power unit supply or without any connections, there can still be a collaboration between other teams," he says. "I won't divulge too much. Obviously, going into our team is the priority. But we believe that there is still room for collaboration with other teams, irrespective of the power unit supply."

"We are friends off-track but, once the helmet goes on, we are opponents and we are fighting each other. We want the drive in F1 as bad as each other, and I think the one who does the job the best will get it in the end" Christian Lundgaard

Quite where those options would be remains unclear, though. Most of the teams are firmly set with their alliances: Mercedes links to Aston Martin and Williams; Ferrari links to Alfa Romeo and Haas; Red Bull has AlphaTauri; and McLaren, while powered by Mercedes, is more independent. For any of these teams to be open to taking on an Alpine junior as early as next year seems unlikely.

The driver market has the potential to be volatile next year, potentially creating some opportunities outside of Alpine for the juniors if required. But that is jumping a few steps ahead: first off, they have to prove they are ready to make that step, not only overcoming the competition in F2, but within the academy as well.

"Last season I was fighting with Christian," says Zhou. "I think the academy gave us equal opportunities. We're racing in different teams in F2, but we're all trying to be the best we could, trying to beat each other on-track.

"Off-track, we're sharing some information, and the F1 team is helping us during the F2 weekends, sending us some notes about track conditions or changes during FP1 or FP2. So it's quite helpful.

"But on the other hand, we're all equal. We're all trying to beat each other, and be the best we can. Hopefully I think we can put on a good show on-track, especially this year with the three of us together. We're all in pretty good teams as well, so it could be quite a good year ahead."

Lundgaard is forthright when discussing his intra-academy competition: "I need to beat them, and I need to beat them in any way I can.

"Obviously we are friends off-track but, once the helmet goes on, we are opponents and we are fighting each other. We want the drive in F1 as bad as each other, and I think the one who does the job the best will get it in the end. I just need to focus on my thing and be better than them."

The fact Piastri is a step behind Zhou and Lundgaard in terms of F2 experience could actually bode quite well. If he were to follow the two-year plan intended, it would align perfectly with the end of Alonso's initial Alpine contract - perhaps making his timing a little better.

"That timing could work out very well," Piastri says. "But, in saying that, I've also got two other guys in the Alpine academy also in F2 with me. So I can't rely on that to simply get me into F1.

"I'm expecting both Zhou and Christian to be strong in F2 this year. I believe that if you are extremely successful on-track, then you can almost make your own timing.

"That's sort of the mentality I'm taking, and it gives Alpine and Mia a bit of a headache, but it's a nice headache to create I guess. If I'm being successful and showing that I'm ready, and that there's no alternative, I think that's only a good thing for me."

As the F2 grid shapes up for 2021, the Alpine youngsters are three of the most exciting prospects in the field, and will all be expected to fight for wins and the championship. The curveball of the new weekend format will only add to the challenge, and give even greater pointers to the academy chiefs as to which of their young chargers is most deserving of an F1 placement.

As Piastri says, it would be a "nice headache" to cause - but one that Alpine must plan for, or risk leaving its top talent in limbo.