Alpine Acknowledges Need for Further Performance Gains Despite Points Finish
Alpine driver Pierre Gasly has underlined the team's commitment to continued improvement, stating there is still "a lot of work to do" to extract maximum performance, even after securing a points finish in the recent Spanish Grand Prix.
Gasly finished eighth in Barcelona, capitalising on a late safety car period after pitting early and initially falling outside the top ten. The result marked a relatively positive end to the recent triple-header for the Enstone-based squad, which has endured a challenging start to the 2025 season.
However, despite the points, Gasly indicated that satisfaction is tempered by the recognition that more performance is needed. He revealed the team was straight back to work at the factory and in the simulator following Barcelona to review recent races and prepare for the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix.
Looking ahead to the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Gasly highlighted the unique demands of the track. He described it as a challenging circuit featuring long straights combined with fast chicanes and aggressive kerbs. This layout necessitates a compliant car setup and requires drivers to build significant confidence throughout the practice sessions.
The Frenchman stressed the importance of progressively improving the car's performance aim towards qualifying, noting that Montréal offers high risk but also the potential for significant reward. The unpredictable weather, often a factor in Canada, was also identified as another variable the team will need to monitor closely throughout the race weekend.
Gasly emphasised the tight margins currently separating cars across the grid, reinforcing the critical need for faultless execution from both the team and drivers. The objective remains clear: to execute the weekend as effectively as possible and aim to add more points to their tally in Canada. Meanwhile, teammate Franco Colapinto gained further experience during the Barcelona weekend, continuing his adaptation to F1 machinery.
Alpine's focus is clearly on translating recent lessons learned into tangible performance gains on track as the season progresses, starting with the demanding challenge of the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.