Months after Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi’s public criticism of the team’s performance, Pierre Gasly has brought Alpine’s shortcomings into sharp focus. Rossi’s rant earlier this year was a wake-up call for the Alpine team. He publicly criticized the team’s flawed performance and delivery, leading to a wave of controversy. The team had failed to score in two of the four races, including a double crash in Australia. Rossi’s words hung heavy in the air like a challenge for the team to rise above their shortcomings.

Since then, things have become relatively better for the French team. A stellar qualifying & podium for Esteban Ocon in Monaco was a perfect comeback after the CEO’s bashing. Post that, Alpine has shown decent progress in terms of pace. Still, Pierre Gasly feels there is something missing from the Enstone team. Given they are still fighting for the lower half of the top 10, Gasly’s intuition may be right.

The Frenchman highlighted what he believes is the crux of Alpine’s struggle. “Ultimately, we want to fight for better positions. I was chasing Fernando [Alonso] at the start of the race, and I’m just consistently losing these two or three-tenths. That’s what we are lacking at the moment to really take the fight to the two Mercedes, and Alonso in front of us,” Gasly said according to Motorsport.com. His words echo the sentiment of many in the paddock, pointing to the fine margins that separate the top teams.

Read More: Fernando Alonso & Co. Snatch Away Esteban Ocon’s Silver Lining From the Austrian GP With Unprecedented Protest

Gasly’s comments have not only exposed Alpine’s weaknesses but also set the stage for a potential resurgence. As we delve deeper into the season, the question remains: Can Alpine turn their fortunes around?

The Alpine Challenge: A Race Against Time for Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon

The criticism from Rossi and now Gasly’s comments have put the Alpine team under the spotlight. The team, once considered the best of the rest, now faces an uphill battle to regain their standing. With each race, the pressure mounts, and the need for improvement becomes more urgent.

“I will say those two or three-tenths compared to Mercedes and Aston is probably what we’re missing since the start of the year. McLaren did a big step. Is it only us? I’m not too sure, but we will review, and we need to find those two or three-tenths that we are lacking,” Gasly added. His words serve as a stark reminder of the relentless development race in F1. So Alpine needs to buck up & bring some performance if they don’t wish to be left behind in the midfield battle.