Pierre Gasly is setting the bar high for Alpine in the new F1 season. The Frenchman wants his team to be able to structurally compete with the top teams after the summer break. After three points finishes in a row, Gasly is emphatically looking to join the frontrunners. At the moment, Alpine is at most best of the rest and faces a significant gap to the likes of McLaren and Ferrari, but the 30-year-old driver sees plenty of opportunities to catch up.
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After the race weekend in Japan, Gasly shared his vision for the rest of the season. The new regulations and the powerful Mercedes engine have helped Alpine move forward, but for now, the team is still in the midfield. When can the French racing stable close the gap to the top? “I don’t think that’s going to happen within a month,” Gasly responded to the press in Japan. “But I would like to see us play a bigger role in the group with McLaren and Ferrari after the summer break.”
Closing the gap to the top
The Frenchman referred to the race in Suzuka, where the gap was still clearly visible: “In Japan, the difference was still too big to really get involved in that battle,” said Gasly. “We lose about seven seconds over 28 laps. That means we have to make up about a quarter of a second per lap; that must be our goal.” Suzuka at least exposed a number of weak points, Gasly explained. “The car was difficult to drive during the race. In qualifying, I felt a bit more comfortable. Especially at high speed, we had a hard time, and we know that is currently a limitation for us.”
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Nevertheless, optimism prevails within Alpine. “We know what we need to improve, and that is positive. We don’t have to worry about the engine – after all, we have the best there is – so we have to focus on the chassis. I think we have a good package, but we need to refine it further.” Gasly also sees confidence growing within the team. “I’m especially happy that the car seems to be competitive on different types of circuits. That gives our self-confidence a big boost. I haven’t been to the factory yet, but I hope everyone there gets motivated when they see us fighting for these positions. It’s a world of difference from last year, and hopefully that will help us take another step in the coming months.”
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