Gasly praises 'the best Alpine ever', while the team denies any claims of 'sabotage'.
"I was approximately three or four tenths of a second per lap behind Hamilton."
Pierre Gasly has stated that Alpine has provided him with the best car of his Formula 1 career, although the team has been compelled to counter ongoing allegations of unequal treatment towards teammate Franco Colapinto. After three races in 2026, Gasly has clearly outperformed the highly regarded Argentine newcomer, leading their head-to-head matchups in qualifying, sprint, and race outcomes. While Colapinto has found it challenging to match Gasly's speed, some fans have suggested that he is not receiving the same level of equipment, prompting Alpine to issue a rare and firm rebuttal. However, Gasly is optimistic about the overall performance of the car. "I’m happy that our car performs well on all kinds of tracks. It’s a significant confidence booster," he stated. "In Suzuka, I was about three or four tenths a lap behind Hamilton. Ferrari is our next goal, and we must do everything possible to catch them. Currently, the gap remains too wide for us to be genuinely competitive for a podium finish, but after the summer break, I hope we can be in the same group as McLaren and Ferrari." As online speculation grew, Alpine sought to dispel claims that Colapinto is at a disadvantage. "The team strives to have both of the fastest cars on the track and ensures equal opportunities for both drivers to compete and earn crucial points for the team in the championship," the team stated. Alpine acknowledged that development parts may be delivered to one car before the other due to manufacturing limitations, but emphasized that this is not intentional. "That is never the intended or desired strategy," the team asserted. "If the part represents a performance upgrade, as we anticipate, we want it available on both cars right away." The statement firmly dismissed more serious allegations. "Any questions regarding sabotage or not providing Franco with the same car are entirely baseless." Alpine also reaffirmed its support for the young driver. "Franco is our driver, and the team has entrusted him just as he has trusted the team—this demonstrates the commitment we have to both Franco and his position within the team alongside Pierre."
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Gasly praises 'the best Alpine ever', while the team denies any claims of 'sabotage'.
Formula 1 | Pierre Gasly states that Alpine has provided him with the best car of his Formula 1 career - however, the team has had to refute ongoing rumors of unequal (…)
