Alpine's Solid Canadian GP: Progress and Challenges Ahead
Alpine emerged as the top midfield contender in Canada, thanks to strong performances from Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly. Despite their success, the team acknowledges there's more work required to maintain their competitive edge.
Alpine's steady climb in the 2026 season continued in Canada, where they solidified their lead in the midfield battle after five rounds. Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly both brought home points, keeping the French outfit comfortably ahead of Haas and Racing Bulls.
However, the path to success wasn't without its bumps. Gasly, who had a strong start to the season, faced challenges in Miami and Montreal, unlike his earlier performances. Colapinto, on the other hand, is hitting his stride, finishing as the top midfield car in Canada despite sustaining damage to his front wing.
Colapinto's weekend was a rollercoaster. Initially out-qualified by Gasly in the first three races, he turned the tables in Miami, sparking a resurgence that carried through to Canada. After a shaky start with a power unit issue in practice, Colapinto qualified 13th for the Sprint and finished ninth, narrowly missing out on points. He improved further in the Grand Prix, securing a career-best sixth place, despite a mishap in the pits that damaged his car.
"From where we started to a double points finish, it's a fantastic reward," Colapinto remarked. "We benefited from others' misfortune, but we maximized our potential. There's still work to do to get closer to the frontrunners on merit."
Gasly, used to outperforming his teammates, found himself in a new position as Colapinto outpaced him in both the Sprint and Grand Prix. Despite starting 14th, Gasly fought back to finish in the points, capitalizing on others' misfortunes but also staying out of trouble.
"It's a good team result," Gasly said, "but I've struggled with the car. We need to address these issues before Monaco."
With Monaco up next, Alpine's focus turns to maintaining their competitive edge. While their upgrades have paid off, Racing Bulls and Haas are not far behind. Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson scored points in Canada, although his teammate Arvid Lindblad faced bad luck. Haas, despite their upgrades, didn't pose as much of a threat.
Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore acknowledged the need for more performance: "There's a lot of hard work ahead to improve our competitiveness. The drivers are giving similar feedback, and we need to find more performance for Monaco."
Despite the challenges, Alpine sits fifth in the championship, 14 points clear of Racing Bulls, already surpassing last year's total points. This marks a promising start to the season, but resting on their laurels isn't an option if they want to stay ahead in a tightly contested midfield.