In a complicated weekend for Alpine, Pierre Gasly snatched 9th position in qualifying thanks to a very committed final lap in the streets of Monaco.
Read more Lewis Hamilton expresses a combative tone ahead of Monaco: «Nothing is impossible» for victory
Since the start of the weekend, Alpine struggled to compete with several of its direct rivals, notably Audi, on the demanding Monte Carlo track. Free practice sessions had already highlighted a general lack of pace, leaving little hope for a good result in qualifying.
However, at the decisive moment of Q3, Pierre Gasly managed to extract the maximum from his single-seater. The French driver succeeded in bringing his car up to ninth position, once again confirming his leadership role within the team in important moments.
A “limit” lap to unlock everything
The Norman driver admitted having to push his limits to achieve this result, on a circuit where the slightest mistake is immediately punished. In a context where confidence is essential, Gasly explained that he took big risks to achieve his best lap of the weekend.
“I am really satisfied, it was clearly my best lap of the weekend. I had to attack to the maximum and take all the risks to get this time” he confided after the session.
The Alpine driver also highlighted the general difficulty encountered since Friday, with a car difficult to tame and a constant lack of feeling on a yet very demanding track.
Progress rewarded despite the limits
Despite a tricky start to the weekend, Gasly believes the team managed to progress throughout the sessions. The adjustments made allowed them to regain a certain level of performance at the most important moment, even if the gap with the top teams remains significant.
Read more Oscar Piastri discusses an «important» factor to avoid a procession at the Monaco Grand Prix
“We managed to progress little by little since FP1. Today, it was the best possible result, so we have to be satisfied. When we look at the leaders, McLaren for example is six tenths ahead, so we are where we should be on paper” he analyzed.
This clarity does not prevent a certain satisfaction, especially because this result was obtained on a circuit where driving clearly makes the difference.
Colapinto struggling in the second Alpine seat
For his part, Franco Colapinto failed to keep pace with his teammate, finishing only 14th at the end of qualifying. The Argentine admitted a lack of confidence in the car, an element crucial in Monaco.
He explained that he struggled to adapt his driving style to the reactions of the single-seater, on a circuit where commitment is essential to perform. Despite this, he hopes to progress in the race and find more consistency.
Alpine facing a still significant gap
Beyond Gasly’s result, this weekend primarily confirms Alpine’s persistent difficulties against the top teams. While the Frenchman managed to maximize his car’s potential, the gap to the benchmark teams remains significant.
In this context, ninth place almost appears as a performance in itself, achieved thanks to a perfectly executed lap in the narrow streets of Monaco.
Read more What time to follow the start of the Monaco Grand Prix today?