Alpine Drivers Split Qualifying Ahead of Wet Canadian GP

TL;DR: Franco Colapinto qualified tenth for Alpine, while Pierre Gasly started fourteenth after floor damage from a groundhog hit in Q1. Both drivers noted mixed feelings ahead of a wet Canadian Grand Prix.

Context Alpine entered the Montreal weekend with hopes of building on recent gains. The team showed improved pace in the Sprint, where Colapinto finished ninth and Gasly started from the pit lane and ended twentieth. Qualifying saw Colapinto advance to Q3 with a lap of 1 minute 13.697 seconds, securing tenth on the grid. Gasly recorded a 1 minute 14.187 second lap, placing him fourteenth after his car suffered handling issues early in the session.

Key Facts Gasly said he was disappointed with the result, noting the car did not feel as expected and that the team must keep working to understand the pace gap. He acknowledged the package has speed, pointing to Colapinto’s Q3 appearance as evidence. Gasly’s car sustained floor damage in Q1 when it struck a trackside groundhog, which affected its handling in Q2. Colapinto described his day as positive, highlighting strong Sprint pace and a solid qualifying effort that left him proud of the team’s work. He noted he was close to scoring a Sprint point and felt confident about a good race if conditions stay consistent. Sprint times: Gasly’s fastest lap was 1 minute 16.150 seconds; Colapinto’s was 1 minute 15.478 seconds. Qualifying times: Gasly 1 minute 14.187 seconds; Colapinto 1 minute 13.697 seconds.

What It Means The split outcomes highlight Alpine’s current inconsistency: one car shows competitive pace while the other struggles with comfort and mechanical setbacks. The forecast calls for heavy rain, which could level the field and give Gasly a chance to reset his setup in wet conditions. Colapinto’s strong Sprint performance suggests he could contend for points if the weather remains manageable. The team will need to balance quick repairs on Gasly’s floor with strategic tire choices for a wet race.

What to watch next: how Alpine adapts to the wet track, whether Gasly can recover positions, and if Colapinto can convert his qualifying spot into points.