Pierre Gasly can’t give a number as to when Alpine can fight in the midfield, even though they are bringing some bits in F1 Japanese GP.
It hasn’t been the start that Gasly hoped for Alpine to have in 2024 F1 season. Things started to look bad already in pre-season and it has translated into that now after three races are done with. They are yet to score a point and only once made it in Q2.
Amid the slump, there has been continuous exits from the F1 team which may have slowed down things. The only way to get out of it is to bring updates and improve the car. In terms of new parts, Gasly doesn’t have the set number of races for it to arrive.
There will be small steps and by when they can fight for midfield, he can’t answer that as of now. “I can’t give you a number, they’re going to be small steps at a time,” said Gasly. “When exactly we will be in a position to be fighting where we need to fight? This is still… I can’t give you the answer.
When pressed on about having new parts in Japanese GP, Gasly was happy for some steps being taken but he noted about every team doing something for themselves. For Alpine, it is a bigger task to bring an update which can push them at a larger rate.
“I heard a lot of people are coming with new parts in Suzuka,” said Gasly. “I think it’s good to get already this going, on our car and see the effect it has. It’s going to be a step, from where we are. At the minute, we need every single increase of performance we can. So that’s positive. I know there’ll be more coming later.
“But I think mainly at the moment is trying to figure out like bigger picture whether we stick to this car concept which we have or try to start from, something a bit more out of the box. We know exactly compared to last year what’s worse and what’s similar.
“So I think it’s mainly about doing these steps and see how it put us I think we’re not looking at the two-three weeks plan, but more like a four to six months plan and trying to come up with a package that is stronger for the end of the year,” summed up Gasly.
Here’s Esteban Ocon on feeling like Manor days but with difference
Here’s link to a F1 Discord channel, join in to interact