Alpine returned to scoring points in Formula 1 with a solid performance from Pierre Gasly, who finished the Japanese GP in seventh position after intense pressure from Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen. The result was celebrated by the team as another positive sign at the start of the season.
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The performance also reinforces Alpine’s evolution across different types of circuits, something highlighted internally after the race. Additionally, the weekend was considered positive overall, despite Franco Colapinto being unable to convert his pace into points.
Gasly described the race as demanding from start to finish, especially after the Safety Car intervention: “It was a very intense race and I am very happy with P7 and for scoring more points for the championship. It was a very good race and well managed by the team,” he stated, also highlighting that the race had two distinct phases before and after the Safety Car.
The Frenchman explained that the second half of the race was marked by constant pressure from Verstappen: “After the Safety Car, we had to defend against Max, who put on a lot of pressure for 25 laps. We had to defend a lot and that is not easy against a four-time world champion, so I am happy to maintain the position and secure good points.”
Gasly also assessed that the team is close to faster opponents and highlighted the car’s solid foundation: “It was a positive weekend for the team and we are not far from some faster teams. The car has a solid base, so we need to stay motivated and keep working hard,” he stated.
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Franco Colapinto, for his part, finished 16th after a frustrating race, marked by difficulties in gaining positions. The Argentine highlighted that he was in contention for points after a good start, but lost ground after the Safety Car: “It was a very long and frustrating race today, we spent a lot of time looking at the rear wing of another car,” he commented.
He also mentioned the accident involving Haas’s Oliver Bearman and the speed difference between the cars: “After seeing the footage, there was a big speed difference, something that might be a characteristic of these cars, and I’m glad he’s okay. The Safety Car came at a bad time for us and we lost positions,” he stated, adding that the team needs to improve performance on Saturdays in qualifying sessions.
The French team’s executive consultant, Flavio Briatore, praised Gasly’s performance and assessed the weekend as positive: “It was another positive weekend for the team, with another strong points finish. Pierre drove a fantastic race and defended very well under pressure to keep Max behind for more than 25 laps,” he said.
Briatore also highlighted that Colapinto’s result was limited by his starting position and reinforced the work during the calendar break in April: “With this short break, we won’t be standing still and will work hard at Enstone to add more performance to the car and give equal opportunities to both drivers,” the executive added.
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