Gasly and Colapinto Ready to Conquer Suzuka: Alpine Aims for More Points in Japan!
The excitement is palpable as Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto gear up for the highly anticipated Japanese Grand Prix at the legendary Suzuka circuit—a track that remains uncharted territory for the rookie Colapinto in Formula 1. Following a thrilling race in Shanghai, where Alpine finally achieved the remarkable feat of scoring points with both drivers, the team is on a high and determined to keep the momentum rolling.
Gasly, who finished a commendable 10th in Australia and followed it up with an impressive performance in Shanghai, is eager to capitalize on his recent success. Reflecting on the last race, he expressed a mix of pride and ambition: “It feels great to leave a race with solid points in our pocket. We were competitive throughout the weekend in China, but I left wanting more, feeling we could have done even better if circumstances had favored us. That said, we've learned a lot, which will aid us in future races. It's a good sign that we come off a positive weekend with some disappointment, and I hope we can carry our form into Japan, one of my favorite places on the calendar.”
Gasly's personal connection to Japan runs deep, having competed there during his early career in 2017. He plans to explore Tokyo, as he always does during race week, reveling in the vibrant culture and delectable cuisine that the city offers. “Suzuka will be an interesting challenge with this year's cars. We shouldn't set any expectations too high, as Suzuka presents unique challenges with its fast and flowing nature. But I'm ready for the challenge, and we aim to add more points to our tally before the short break in April.”
Joining him in this quest is his enthusiastic teammate, Franco Colapinto, who is buzzing with excitement for his debut at Suzuka. “Looking back, I'm thrilled to have left Shanghai with my first point for the team, especially after some thrilling battles on track. It's a shame we couldn't achieve more, as there was potential, but not everything went our way during the race. I'm genuinely impressed with the progress the team has made this season—the difference between Melbourne and Shanghai is clear,” he stated.
Colapinto recently spent time at the team headquarters in Enstone, working closely with engineers and on the simulator. “It was fantastic to share that result with the team, especially after all the hard work from everyone over the past few months. We’ve shown what we're capable of, and now we aim to build on that as we head into Suzuka this weekend—another fresh challenge. I’m really excited to race in Japan for the first time; it's a fantastic country, and I can't wait to experience the weekend at this iconic track.”
As the tension builds and the drivers prepare to hit the famed turns of Suzuka, the stage is set for an exhilarating showdown. Will Alpine continue their upward trend, or will new challenges derail their ambitions? One thing is for certain: all eyes will be on Gasly and Colapinto as they strive for glory in Japan!
