P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly has explained why he was “hoping for another red flag” during the Japanese Grand Prix, with him unable to capitalise on two strong starts at Suzuka.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly described the extensive damage he suffered in a collision with teammate Esteban Ocon during the Japanese Grand Prix, ruining his race. Despite a strong start from 17th on the grid, Gasly’s performance was hindered by contact with Yuki Tsunoda and Ocon on the second start after the red flag. Gasly finished 16th, continuing Alpine’s point drought for the season, with Ocon coming in 15th with a compromised race due to damage. Gasly highlighted the significant loss of downforce after the incident, making it challenging to continue racing. The Team Enstone outfit, facing difficulties reminiscent of Lotus in 2014, found some optimism with their initial set of upgrades, hinting at potential performance gains moving forward. Gasly commended the team’s effort in implementing upgrades and emphasized the need for continued improvements to enhance competitiveness on the track.
