Pierre Gasly has stated that the updates planned for the Alpine team at the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix are “critical” to maintaining competitiveness in the midfield of Formula 1, after falling behind in development compared to their rivals.
After starting the 2026 season with high hopes, sitting in fifth place in the standings, Alpine has experienced a significant setback during the recent races, losing valuable positions to teams like Racing Bulls and Audi. Gasly achieved a controversial podium in Monaco, but the last five races have not brought improvements for the French team.
The updates to be implemented for the Zandvoort GP, scheduled from August 21 to 23, include substantial aerodynamic parts, as noted by General Director Steve Nielsen. Gasly emphasized that it is vital for these improvements to deliver immediate results, reminding of the advances made by rival teams such as Aston Martin and Racing Bulls, which have recorded significantly faster times recently.
“If you bring updates, you expect the performance to improve significantly. It is important, as Aston Martin improved by two seconds last weekend. We need to urgently react if we want to preserve our chances for fifth place in the championship,” Gasly commented after failing to score points at the Hungarian GP.
This year, the effectiveness in implementing improvements is more important than ever due to the new regulations, an area where Alpine has struggled previously. With the season progressing and the team facing a stressful scenario, Gasly is aware that the car’s performance issues need a quick solution to avoid repeating past mistakes.
“It is a situation I do not want to face, but it cannot be hidden. We have been struggling to position ourselves behind the rivals. We need immediate improvements, as the car does not react as it should and that prevents me from driving efficiently. There are several aspects that need adjusting,” the French driver added.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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