Gasly: Alpine on Another Level in Sao Paulo, But 'We Don't Know Why'

Pierre Gasly enjoyed a strong weekend in São Paulo, scoring points in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix, marking Alpine's first double-points finish since before the summer break. However, despite the significant performance improvement, Gasly admitted the team is unsure what caused the sudden uplift in pace at Interlagos.

Why it matters:

After a challenging season, Alpine's return to the points, particularly with both cars performing well, offers a much-needed morale boost and a glimmer of hope for future races. Understanding the factors behind this sudden improvement is crucial for the team to consistently challenge for points and climb the Constructors' standings, a position they've struggled with throughout much of the year.

The details:

• Sprint Success: Gasly started 13th in Saturday's Sprint and moved up to P8, showcasing strong race craft.
• Grand Prix Grind: In the main Grand Prix, he started on soft tires, necessitating an early pit stop and a battle through midfield traffic. He ultimately secured P10, holding off Alex Albon by just three-tenths of a second.
• First Double Points in Months: This marked Alpine's first double-points weekend since before F1's summer break, highlighting the car's improved performance in Brazil.
• Mystery Performance Boost: Gasly emphasized the car felt "on another level" compared to the previous three months, but the underlying reasons for this sudden step-up in performance remain unclear to the team.
• Interlagos Connection: Gasly has a strong history at Interlagos, having secured his maiden F1 podium there in 2019 and another rostrum in the previous season. However, he attributed this weekend's success more to the car's unknown improvements than personal affinity with the circuit.

Between the lines:

Gasly's candid admission about not knowing the source of their improved pace suggests a potential 'one-off' performance influenced by specific track characteristics, tire management, or perhaps even a fortunate setup window. While a good result is always welcome, the lack of understanding could make it difficult to replicate this form at upcoming races. The team will be pouring over data to pinpoint the variables that unlocked this speed.

What's next:

Alpine's immediate focus will be on thoroughly analyzing the data from São Paulo to understand the technical factors that contributed to their improved performance. The goal is to identify if the gains were specific to Interlagos or if they can be translated to other circuits, allowing the team to build on this momentum for the remaining races of the season and into the next year. Gasly expressed hope that they can "repeat that again."