Alpine has its sights set on the resumption of the 2026 Formula 1 season with this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix. Pierre Gasly looks back at the podium he achieved in 2023, and Franco Colapinto hopes to turn things around after a disappointing start to the season.
Three years ago, the French driver crossed the finish line in third place, his first podium for the team. Now, after a spell of rest, he said he is ready for the next 12 races until the end of the year. “I have great memories of Zandvoort, as that’s where I earned my first podium with the team in 2023,” he said.
“That was, without a doubt, a memorable day, when we had to make the right decisions throughout the race; I had to keep calm at the wheel amid such varied conditions. It’s good to resume the race week after a few weeks off. It’s always a very good time of the year, when we can reflect and spend precious time with family and friends,” he continued.
“I spent some time at home, relaxing a lot, walking the dog, running on the beach, training at the gym and enjoying the pool. Now I’m ready to begin this next phase of the season. We have a big task ahead, since the championship fight is very tight, and we know that, if we manage to implement updates, we can really stay in the battle with our rivals. It will be a big challenge, and I’m ready for it, starting with the Sprint in Zandvoort,” he added.
Meanwhile the Argentine teammate, after a tougher first half, is looking forward to the Sprint in Zandvoort. “I’m really excited to get back to racing after a summer break that was more than necessary. I started my vacation a bit later than the others because I was finishing the Pirelli tire test in Hungary, but then I managed to truly relax and recharge after a very intense first half of the season,” he said.
“We finished a bit disappointed, something I could reflect on, but it shows how much we’ve evolved as a team compared to where we stood last year. Being now in the fight for fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship is truly impressive; all of us want to do a great job and ensure a solid result for the team. There is still a long way to go, so we need to start off on the right foot in Zandvoort this weekend,” he continued.
“It’s a circuit I really like and one I remember well from my early days in the junior categories. It will be interesting to see what a weekend with a Sprint is like; we need to start well on Friday morning to find the rhythm and push to the limit from the start, aiming to return to the top 10,” he concluded.
