The Argentine admitted that the close of the first half was "disappointing", but highlighted the team's progress. Alpine is sixth with 61 points, five behind Racing Bulls. The goal is to secure that position.
Franco Colapinto returns to action with Alpine after the summer break with a clear goal: to help the French team achieve fifth place in the constructors' championship. The Argentine faces the Dutch Grand Prix with recharged batteries and the goal of scoring points on a circuit he knows well: "We finished a bit disappointed, which I was able to reflect on because it shows how far we have come as a team from this position last year" declared Colapinto.nco Colapinto
Alpine is currently sixth in the constructors' championship with 61 points, just five behind Racing Bulls, who occupy fifth place. The gap to Red Bull, who have 177 points, is abysmal, so the fight for fifth place is the realistic goal for the Enstone team: "Being in the fight now for fifth place in the Constructors' Championship is really impressive and we all want to do a great job to secure that result for the team" stated the Argentine.
Colapinto remains cautious about the demands of the remaining races: "There's still a long way to go, so we have to start on the right foot in Zandvoort this weekend" he pointed out. The Dutch track represents a familiar setting for the Argentine from his days in junior categories, but this year's edition adds the challenge of being held under the Sprint race format, which reduces the margin for testing during practice sessions.
Alpine has already informed that it will bring some new parts that they will evaluate during the only practice session: "The circuit is one I really enjoy and I remember it well from the junior categories. It will be interesting to see how it is as a Sprint weekend and we need to start well on Friday morning to be able to find a rhythm and push to the limit early on since we are aiming for a return to the top 10" explained Colapinto.
The Argentine has been one of Alpine's most prominent drivers in the first half of the season, scoring points in several races. His performance has been key for the team to be in the fight for fifth place, despite the lack of upgrades on the car.
The second half of the season will be crucial for Alpine. The team needs to score points and overtake Racing Bulls in the constructors' championship. The upgrades arriving at Zandvoort should help the team take a step forward.
Colapinto trusts that the team can achieve the goal. The Argentine is motivated and prepared to face the challenges ahead: "We are aiming for a return to the top 10" he stated.
The challenge for Alpine is enormous, but not impossible. Racing Bulls has shown great consistency, but the French team trusts that the upgrades at Zandvoort will allow them to recover lost ground. Colapinto and Gasly must score points regularly to secure fifth place in the constructors' championship.
The second half of the season will be an intense battle for the midfield. Alpine needs to react quickly and prove that the progress shown in the first half was not a mirage. The Dutch GP will be the first thermometer to measure the Enstone team's capacity for reaction.
