Esteban Ocon (FRA), Alpine F1 Team Fernando Alonso (ESP), Aston Martin Racing 24.09.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 17, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan, Race Day.
Pierre Gasly has suggested that the Alpine’s target during the remainder of the 2023 season is to battle the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso.
Having initially outlined its aim was to retain the fourth place it secured last season, Alpine have slumped to a distant sixth position in the Constructors’ Championship.
Alpine have endured a period of turmoil away from the track, resulting in Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer and long-serving Sporting Director Alan Permane exiting in July.
However, Gasly hailed his outing at the United States Grand Prix last time out as his “most complete” weekend display with Alpine, following up seventh in Saturday’s Sprint race with sixth in Sunday’s grand prix.
Asked about the aspects of the weekend that most pleased him, Gasly said: “Well, I will say probably the whole weekend. As a whole.
“I think we’ve been executing and getting the best out of that car every single session. So, whether it was the qualifying on Friday, whether it was the Sprint on Saturday, or even the race, I feel like we’ve left nothing on the table.
“And that’s definitely a satisfying feeling, when you come out of a weekend where you know, you’ve given everything and that’s pretty much the maximum you could get out of it.
“So, I think that’s going to be the target until the end of the year. Obviously we’re not fighting for anything in the championship this season so I think it’s going to be the main focus will be to just execute weekend after weekend the highest level, whether it’s on the execution or getting everything out of our car.”
Pierre Gasly (FRA) Alpine F1 Team. 26.10.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 20, Mexican Grand Prix, Mexico City, Mexico, Preparation Day.
After only accruing 22 points across the first 13 rounds of the year, Gasly has been in stellar form since the summer break, scoring 36 points in the past six rounds.
The ex-Red Bull racer has attributed his marked upturn in form to becoming more embedded within the Alpine ranks following his winter switch from AlphaTauri.
“I will say the first part of the season, I quite rarely got that feeling, which we just had in Austin for example, where it felt everything was optimised and we definitely didn’t leave anything on the table,” he considered.
“I think there was a bit more unknown and getting to know each other with a team, and understanding what sort of car feedback, kind of building the relationship with the team, and everything seems to click a bit better since we got back from the summer break.
“I’m really happy with the progress we’re making, in terms of execution, the attitude, the self-reflection on what we do every single weekend, on all areas. And I think overall, we’re just making a step forward as a team, which is what we need to aim for before next season.”
Looking ahead to this weekend’s race in Mexico, Gasly is remaining realistic on Alpine’s prospects, admitting that the top four in the standings remain out of reach.
However, the 27-year-old is optimistic that the Anglo-French marque can potentially battle Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin across the remaining five rounds of the year.
Asked what can be expected of Alpine at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Gasly said: “Well, I think pretty much the same we have seen last weekend. We seem to be not quite there with the guys ahead, the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull.
“We are not too far from Aston and we can be right in front of them if they don’t get it quite right, like they did in Austin, so I think that’s going to be our main competition.
“If we can get in a fight with Fernando a couple of times until the end of the year, I think that will definitely be a good performance and, as I said, just maximise the opportunities. There might be a couple of good opportunities until Abu Dhabi and just need to make sure we’re there to grab them.”
Keyword: Gasly targeting Alonso battles in remaining F1 2023 rounds