Among the midfield teams, Alpine has arguably been the biggest letdown in the opening part of the season. The Enstone-based outfit has only collected seven points so far, all scored by Pierre Gasly—six of which came in Bahrain. Now, the team heads into its “home” race in Monte Carlo, and considering Gasly’s qualifying form (four Q3 appearances in seven races), there’s renewed optimism for a points finish on the narrow streets of the Principality.

Gasly’s Thoughts
“We had some positives at Imola, but left disappointed on Sunday night with the final outcome. Not everything went as planned, but we’ll try to learn from it and build on it this weekend,” said Gasly. “I’m feeling confident with the car, especially in qualifying trim, and that’s crucial in Monaco. It’s always a unique and special event—the track is iconic, and racing through those famous streets is incredible. As a driver, you need to be absolutely perfect on every lap, which is what makes this one of the toughest races of the year. Throughout the practice sessions, we’ll build confidence and gradually push harder before qualifying, which is massively important here.”

“Our main target is to break into the top 10 so we can be in a strong position to score points on Sunday. Usually, Monaco is a one-stop race, but this year a two-stop strategy is mandatory with the requirement to use a third tire compound. Hopefully, that will make the race more exciting for the fans and give us a chance to get ahead of our rivals,” he added. “But honestly, nothing is predictable in Monaco. The car setup is unlike anything we use at other circuits, so we’re hoping that works in our favor. I can’t wait to hit the track on Friday and get the weekend started.”

Colapinto’s View
Franco Colapinto’s return to Formula 1 hasn’t gone as smoothly as hoped. The Argentine driver crashed during qualifying at Imola, a setback Alpine had somewhat anticipated. The team knew that Imola and Monaco are among the toughest places to debut in F1, as both tracks demand complete confidence in the car.

“It was amazing to be back on track and racing again. We learned a lot as a team, and I felt more comfortable with the car as the weekend progressed,” said Colapinto. “In qualifying, I pushed the car to its limits and made a small mistake that unfortunately had major consequences. We started from P16 and tried to stay patient and fight for points, which we almost managed. We had decent race pace, but the timing of the Safety Car didn’t work in our favor.”

“Now we quickly shift focus to another race week in Monaco—one of the hardest tracks for overtaking and a place where there’s absolutely no margin for error. I’m excited to get back in the car, build up confidence, and continue developing with the team.”