Alpine's mixed performance at Austin

Alpine's first day at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin was marked by both challenges and some positive signals. Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto faced difficulties during single-lap runs, but showed better progress during long-distance simulations. Gasly finished the day in 12th place, while Colapinto placed 15th.

Gasly's struggles and hopes

Pierre Gasly acknowledged that his car, the Alpine A526, is not yet competitive enough on the challenging Austin track. He noted that the car has trouble finding the right balance, especially on the track's uneven surfaces. Despite this, Gasly remains optimistic about improving his performance in upcoming sessions.

Improvements on long runs

Gasly observed that the A526 performed better during race simulations, even though the results with low fuel were still unsatisfactory. He is now focusing on improving his single-lap times during the final free practice sessions, aiming to qualify in the top 10.

Colapinto's penalty and strategy

Franco Colapinto faced a 10-place grid penalty due to installing a new electronic control unit. This affected his Friday program, as Alpine prioritized long runs and race setup over qualifying performance. The team emphasized preparing for the race rather than focusing solely on speed in qualifying.

Tire management and race strategy

Colapinto highlighted the importance of tire management at the Circuit of the Americas, where tire degradation could be a significant issue. He believes the track's layout offers many overtaking chances and hopes to use them to improve his position in the race despite his penalty.

Team director's assessment

Steve Nielsen, Alpine's team director, admitted the first day did not meet expectations. He confirmed that the two drivers followed different programs, with Colapinto focusing on race preparation and Gasly testing various setups. Nielsen noted that the A526 behaves better with a full tank, which could be an advantage in the race but complicates qualifying efforts.