Gasly: I'm glad I held my position against Verstappen's attacks.

      The stage in Japan became the third consecutive one where Alpine scored points thanks to Pierre Gasly. The seventh place in Suzuka allowed the team to equalize points with Red Bull Racing in the battle for fifth place in the Constructors' Cup. Franco Colapinto finished sixteenth, becoming an unwitting participant in the accident of Oliver Berman, who went off while overtaking the slowed-down Argentine. Pierre Gasly (7th): "The race was intense from start to finish, so I'm happy with seventh place and the points earned. It was a good race where the team and I handled everything well. The distance can be divided into two phases - before and after the safety car came out. Based on what we've already seen this season, the races have been eventful, so at some point, a real or virtual safety car can be expected. After the safety car left the track, I defended against Max Verstappen, who was pressuring me for 25 laps. Defending against a four-time world champion is not easy, but I'm glad I held my position and earned a solid amount of points. We had a positive weekend and we're not too far off from the faster teams. The car has a solid foundation, we maintain our motivation, and we continue to work to catch up with our rivals." Franco Colapinto (16th): "Today was a very long and frustrating race. For most of the distance, I was looking at the rear wing of another car. I had a good start and gained a few positions on the first lap, was racing alongside both Racing Bulls drivers and contending for points. We reacted to Oliver Berman's pit stop and managed to stay ahead. I battled with him for a few laps, and then suddenly saw him fly past me on the grass in the Spoon corner. After watching the replay post-race, I noticed a significant speed difference between us, which may be related to the characteristics of the cars of this generation. I'm glad he's okay. Then the safety car came out, but at an inconvenient time for us - I lost a few positions. It's a shame because at that moment I was battling with Liam Lawson and other drivers who then scored points. Ultimately, we need to perform better on Saturdays to have a better chance in the race. Right now, the team is using the break to work hard in Enstone and come back stronger in Miami."