Tough Saturday, stronger Sunday
Pierre Gasly admitted he knew Alpine were in for a difficult race weekend after qualifying only 14th for the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Despite the setback, he produced a solid recovery drive on Sunday to climb into the points and finish P8.
Key Highlights
- Gasly climbed from P14 to P8 in Canada, calling it “damage limitation” after a difficult weekend
- Alpine struggled with pace and traction issues despite recent upgrade developments
- Strong recovery drive saw Gasly challenge for P7 but fall just short of Lawson
- Team remains P5 in standings, with both drivers scoring in Montreal for a 12-point haul
Recovery drive into the points
Starting on medium tyres in cooler conditions, Gasly made a clean launch and gradually worked his way through the field as opportunities opened up during the race. He eventually closed in on Liam Lawson in the final stages but ran out of laps to challenge for P7, settling instead for eighth place and valuable points for the team.
“Damage limitation” after struggles
Reflecting on the result, Gasly was honest about Alpine’s overall pace issues across the weekend but still saw positives in the execution. He also highlighted that scoring 12 points as a team marked an important step forward after a period without strong double finishes.
"I must say I’m happy with the… I’ll call it damage limitation. The whole weekend, with all the struggles yeah, I'll take these four points definitely,” Gasly said after the race.
Alpine focus turns to Monaco
Gasly explained that traction issues have been a recurring weakness since Alpine introduced upgrades earlier in the season, affecting confidence and consistency in different conditions. He admitted he was “not comfortable” in the car during parts of the weekend and said the team needs to fully understand the underlying limitations.
“There is a bit more work [to do] but at least it is very clear what we have to work on with traction, and try to get it back to the level it was in.”
Despite the challenges, Alpine remain fifth in the Constructors’ standings, holding a small advantage over Racing Bulls, with both cars contributing points in Canada.
