The French driver warned that the team needs to take a step forward to regain fifth place in the championship. Alpine has lost ground to Racing Bulls and Audi, with aerodynamic upgrades arriving at the Dutch GP.
Pierre Gasly has put pressure on Alpine for the upgrades arriving at the Dutch Grand Prix to be precise and effective. The French driver acknowledged that the team has lost ground to its rivals and needs to regain fifth place in the constructors' championship: "We haven't taken many steps, so I think it's critical for us if we want to keep hope of that fifth place in the championship" declared Gasly.
The French team has seen Racing Bulls snatch fifth place in the constructors' championship from them in Hungary, after Alpine had held that position since the Miami Grand Prix. Franco Colapinto's emergence as "the best of the rest" in Florida and Gasly's podium in Monaco are now behind them, as both Racing Bulls and Audi have taken a step forward with their upgrades: "We just didn't take many steps, so I think it's critical for us" insisted Gasly.
The French driver also referred to the feelings with the car: "It doesn't feel good in the car either, the car doesn't react at all as I would like, it doesn't allow me to drive the way I need and there are quite a few things to fix" said Gasly, who hopes that the aerodynamic upgrades Alpine will introduce at Zandvoort will change the team's dynamic.
Steve Nielsen, Alpine's sporting director, confirmed that the team will work on the next race: "I think our next major update will come at Zandvoort, where we will incorporate some quite significant new aerodynamic parts. It's just the typical development war we find ourselves in, we're a bit behind. We need to add pace to the car and get back to where we were at the beginning" explained Nielsen.
Concern at Alpine is evident. Aston Martin improved by two seconds in Hungary and will also debut a new engine at Zandvoort, while Racing Bulls and Audi have continued to develop their cars. Gasly acknowledged that the competition is fierce and that Alpine needs to react: "Racing Bulls improved by seconds at the start of the year, Audi too. It's not the reality I want to see, but there's no way to hide from it" he stated.
The French driver trusts that the upgrades will work, but did not want to take anything for granted: "For my part, I don't doubt that the upgrades will be what the team expects, they are very important because Aston Martin improved by two seconds over the weekend in Hungary and they have another engine arriving at Zandvoort" he explained.
Alpine needs a change of direction if it wants to fight for fifth place in the constructors' championship again. The team has shown it can be competitive, but the lack of development in recent races has taken its toll. The upgrades at Zandvoort are fundamental for Alpine to get back into the fight for points and recover lost ground against its rivals.
Gasly hopes the car will react better and that he will be able to drive as he needs. The Frenchman has been one of the team's most consistent drivers, but the A526's performance has limited his options in recent races.
