It is a little frustrating start to the season for the Alpine F1 team, which the team director, Oliver Oakes, recognized in Miami.
With only an arrival at the point at the key during the first five races, history does not say everything in reality. What is the potential of this A525 which, according to Pierre Gasly, is not easy to identify to predict a trend?
“Yes, frustrating is the right word. I think that in Australia, we felt a little injured. It was good in Bahrain to show where we think we really showed where we can be, with 7th place. We really have performance in the car. But it varies from one track to another. What is a little annoying is that we have to seize the opportunities when they are not really. Concretize. but we approach the situation with a positive state of mind. “
Why didn’t it work?
“If it was easy … No, on a few races, I think in Australia, a little rain, a little safety because, and in China, the weekend was complicated, it did not suit us particularly. The midfielder is just very tight at the moment. Everyone is very close. It will be the case for the rest of the year. We have clearly to unlock and we just have to do a good weekend.
One of the missions of Oakes when he joined Alpine in the middle of last year was to restore a competitive spirit to the team. Does he think there has been ahead?
“I think we have progressed well. I think I applied this watchword well, because the press was talking a lot about the team and its difficulties. We see a very united team now. We have obtained good results at the end of last year and a good performance on track. But it never stops. We have not yet fully achieved this goal, of course. You want to fight higher on the week after week.”
Did Pierre Gasly imposed himself within the team, without the presence of Esteban Ocon, who left for Haas F1?
“Yes, I think he is clearly the leader of the de facto team with his experience. He was already driving wonderfully last year and he continued on his momentum at the start of the year. With each new car, we also try to please him. Some weekends, he is more satisfied with balance, others, we have work. But he brings a lot to the team and it’s nice to see him help us progress.”
