Alpine’s Suzuka surge: Flavio Briatore claims team is now F1’s “fourth force”. Alpine impresses at the F1 Japanese GP with Pierre Gasly scoring solid points and Franco Colapinto gaining valuable experience.

Suzuka delivered a strong and resilient performance from Alpine, showing a team capable of enduring challenges and responding effectively. Pierre Gasly brought home valuable points, Franco Colapinto experienced a demanding and instructive race, and Flavio Briatore assessed the weekend with clarity and high expectations. The Japanese Grand Prix illustrated a team still building, but already hungry for results.

Gasly describes a race of endurance, strategy, and nerves of steel

Pierre Gasly recounted a Sunday that tested him from the first to the last lap:

“The race was intense from start to finish, and I’m very happy with this seventh place, which gives us important points in the championship. It was a well-managed effort from the team throughout the day. There were clearly two phases: before and after the safety car. We’ve noticed that races this season have been quite eventful, so we expected a safety car at some point, whether real or virtual. We were increasing the gap to our pursuers, but after the neutralization, we had to defend against Max [Verstappen] for twenty-five laps. It’s never easy against a four-time world champion. I’m pleased I kept my position and secured crucial points. Overall, it’s been a positive weekend for the team, and we’re not far from the fastest squads. The car has a solid foundation, so we must stay motivated and keep working hard to close the gap with our rivals.”

Colapinto endures a long, tough race filled with battles

Franco Colapinto reflected on a Sunday that demanded patience, composure, and calm under pressure:

“Today was a long and frustrating race, spending a lot of time stuck behind another car’s rear wing. We had a great start, gaining a position on the first lap, and remained in contact with the two VCARB cars, keeping the top ten in our sights. We reacted by pitting to cover Ollie [Bearman] and managed to restart ahead of him. I battled him for a few laps before seeing him suddenly slide onto the grass in front of me at the entrance to Spoon. Watching the footage, there’s a huge speed differential, which can be a feature of these new cars. I’m really relieved he’s okay. The safety car came out immediately after, at a very unfortunate time for us, costing us positions. It’s a shame, because before that we were in contention with Liam [Lawson] and other drivers who scored points. Ultimately, we need to improve our Saturday performance to start the race higher up. We’ll use this break to work hard at Enstone and return stronger in Miami.”

Flavio Briatore evaluates Alpine’s progress and future goals

Finally, Flavio Briatore offered a broader perspective, balancing progress, ambition, and internal responsibility:

“It was another positive weekend for the team, with another points finish early in the season. Repeating this performance at a track like Suzuka confirms the progress we made in Shanghai and shows that, at the moment, we’re competing with Red Bull to be the fourth force in the championship. Pierre once again drove a fantastic race and managed the pressure exceptionally well, keeping Max [Verstappen] at bay for over twenty-five laps. The safety car came at the worst possible moment for Franco, who was very close to scoring points during the first stint. Saturday’s result was limiting for Franco, forcing him into a chasing role throughout the race. The goal now is to make him more competitive in the coming races. During this short break, we won’t be idle: we’ll work hard at Enstone to improve the car’s performance and continue providing both drivers with equal opportunities to score points and achieve strong results.”