Pierre Gasly Faces Major Setback at Monza with Alpine: Struggles for Pace in Italian GP

In a challenging Italian Grand Prix, Alpine F1 driver Pierre Gasly experienced a significant performance drop, failing to surpass Q1 and finishing 15th at Monza. Gasly expressed his frustration, describing the race as “super-painful” and a notable dip in competitiveness.

Key Takeaways:

• Alpine was prepared for difficulties at Monza, a low downforce, high-speed track, but the reality proved even harsher, with both Gasly and teammate Esteban Ocon failing to advance beyond Q1. Ocon eventually retired due to a steering issue.
• Gasly, facing a lack of pace, commented on the team’s gamble on a dual pit stop strategy, hoping for a safety car opportunity that never materialized. This move was out of necessity, given their significant performance gap.
• Addressing the team’s setbacks, Gasly emphasized the need for a comprehensive understanding of the performance drop, beyond just the power unit, to ensure a more competitive package for future races.

In what turned out to be a stark reversal of fortunes, Alpine F1 driver Pierre Gasly faced a tough weekend at the Italian Grand Prix. After a podium finish at Zandvoort, Gasly and his team entered the Monza race with tempered expectations, knowing the track’s characteristics posed a challenge. However, the outcome was more disheartening than anticipated.

During the race, Alpine’s struggle for pace was evident. The team’s prior knowledge of the challenges at the low downforce, high-speed Monza circuit did little to mitigate their performance issues. This was highlighted when neither Gasly nor Ocon progressed past the first qualifying session, and Ocon’s eventual retirement from the race due to a steering problem only compounded their difficulties.

Gasly, who ended up in 15th position, openly shared his frustrations. “It’s been super-painful. I don’t think we have ever had such a lack of competitiveness compared to our rivals,” he said. His reflections painted a clear picture of the team’s dismay and disappointment with their performance. Alpine’s strategy was a gamble – they hoped for a safety car scenario to help them gain positions, but their efforts were in vain.

The race’s outcome was in sharp contrast to Gasly’s previous success at Zandvoort, where he had achieved his first podium with Alpine. In Monza, the situation was so dire that Gasly was close to being lapped by Max Verstappen, only saved by the race’s conclusion.

Gasly’s comments underscore the team’s urgent need to understand and rectify the reasons behind their performance drop. “It’s not just the power unit, it’s the whole package,” he stressed, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive approach to improvements. As the team looks forward to the next season, their focus will be on developing a stronger, more competitive package, learning from the challenges faced at Monza.