Pierre Gasly finished P18 in Azerbaijan. Photo: RacePictures

Gasly surrenders to Alpine's inability to join the F1 midfield battle

17:14, 24 Sep

byNorberto Mujica

Pierre Gasly has emitted sobering words in Alpine’s direction, seemingly resigning himself to the French team’s current potential being insufficient to join the F1 midfield fight.

Pierre Gasly overtakes Franco Colapinto for P18 in Baku. Photo: RacePictures.

Honestly, it’s quite tough when you see the gap with the other cars in front.

- Pierre Gasly

After finishing P18 in Baku, with the help of race winner Max Verstappen, Gasly said: “Obviously, we have no pace. It doesn’t make our life very easy.

“We’ve never really been strong around here, so I think there’s obviously some stuff we don’t do quite well.”

Alpine’s woes have grown deeper in recent races, Gasly suggests – a complicated situation which, however, may be turned around.

“I think overall, the last four or five weekends have been more difficult, so [I] really want to work with the team to try to get back into a better place. But yeah, this weekend was clearly not good.

“We’re so far back, honestly, that at the moment we just need sometimes to analyse everything and try to work things out, but it clearly didn’t work this weekend.”

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Nevertheless, he’s under no illusions that the Enstone-based outfit will suddenly become a contender in the midfield in the remaining seven Grands Prix.

“I know it’s going to be tough [for the rest of the season], that’s why I think it’s just important for me to move on and just try to work with the team on what we can do to improve short term.

“But we’re not gonna go from P19 to suddenly finding five tenths of lap time. We know what works and what doesn’t, but I’m sure there are still things we can do better.”

Despite his self-awareness, acknowledging his own faults, he does admit that the gap to the cars ahead is disheartening at times.

“Also, on my side, there are things I did, mistakes that I shouldn’t do, so I keep working, but honestly, it’s quite tough when you see the gap with the other cars in front.”

Alpine eyes 2026 turn-around

The 2025 woes, though, Alpine is adamant, won’t carry over into next year. Having dropped the Renault power units to run Mercedes engines in 2026, the team is targeting podiums, wins, and a championship bid the following year.

However, one major talking point still this season is who Alpine will choose to fill the cockpit of the second car they are to field next season. GPblog understands there are various candidates, among which Gasly’s current teammate, Franco Colapinto, emerges as the favourite.

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