Qualifying at the Japanese GP showed Alpine’s current reality: Gasly secured seventh place, repeating his result from China, while Colapinto was eliminated in Q2 with a gap that raised alarms inside the French team.
Nielsen, an Alpine executive, highlighted how Gasly handled the session and his performance at Suzuka, and said that being able to repeat the same qualifying result as in Shanghai gives them confidence that the car can perform on different types of circuits. The Frenchman has been showing a solidity that positions him as the team’s reference, his experience in the category combined with a quick adaptation to the new power units allows him to extract the car’s potential in key moments like qualifying.
On Colapinto’s side, he was eliminated in the second round with a lap that wasn’t up to the standard set by his teammate. Nielsen admitted that the Argentine didn’t show the same step forward in performance between sessions and that’s something the team will work on to correct, it’s worth noting that the gap between the two drivers isn’t new, already in the first races it was noticeable that Gasly maintains a more consistent pace while Colapinto is still searching for the consistency he needs to fight in the midfield.
What stands out most about the Frenchman is his ability to adapt quickly to the new cars, something Nielsen recognized as one of his main strengths. In a season where the regulations changed completely and the cars are more demanding than ever, having a driver who quickly understands the keys to performance is a luxury for any team. Gasly has used that knowledge to maintain a high level in the first three races and become Alpine’s cornerstone in this start to the season.
For Franco, the picture is different. The Argentine showed flashes of his talent in China where he scored his first point, but in Japan the lack of pace in qualifying left him out earlier than expected. The team confirmed they will work with him to understand why he didn’t make the same step forward as his teammate and help him close that gap, a level of support that young drivers don’t always get when they’re exposed alongside an established reference.
The performance gap between Alpine’s two drivers isn’t a drama because Gasly is doing his job and scoring important points for the team, but for Colapinto it’s a wake up call because everyone knows Formula 1 doesn’t forgive, and teammates are the first measuring stick of a driver’s level. The Argentine has the opportunity to learn alongside one of the best in the midfield, but he also needs to show signs that he can get closer to his pace.
Alpine trusts Colapinto’s potential and that’s why they renewed their commitment to him, but they also know that patience in F1 has its limits. Gasly has set the bar high, now the Argentine has to show he can reach it. The road is just beginning, but the gap in Japan was a reminder that in the top category there’s no time to waste.