Pierre Gasly, Alpine Formula 1 driver, believes his podium at Belgian Grand Prix sprint race could prove as a stability point for the team. The team has struggled with multiple management sackings in 2023.
Earlier this month, the CEO of Apline F1 team, Laurent Rossi, is moved from the team to a work on “special projects”. This Friday at Belgian GP, the management announced the departure of Otmar Szafnauer, team principal, and Alan Permane, sporting director after the race. Moreover, its chief technical director Pat Fry has also jumped across the ship to James Vowles’ Williams project.
Szafnauer and Permane’s remained stick to their 100-race plan for the team success. Apparently, it cost them their position for not delivering earlier on a quicker timeline.
In these tough times, Gasly held off Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes W14 and won the third place in the difficult rain affected sprint race.
Gasly beleives that the result could prove a positive point for Alpine. He said: “It’s been quite a busy last few weeks for the team.
“I just joined at the start of the year. It’s quite a big step when you come inside a new team and need to work with new people.
“I must say, from Laurent to Otmar to Alan, even Pat that I could see at the factory, they work in the best way possible.
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“I think it was quite unfortunate that this season, at the minute, doesn’t work out as well as we expected. And we’re not making the progress that we will like.
“With all these changes happening, it’s quite a lot at the minute. I can only thank all these guys… and just wish them the best for the future.”
Gasly added: “What’s most important for me is the impact that it has inside the team. More than the podium itself.
“It’s a sprint race. It obviously sounds good and you get a little trophy, but you don’t really jump on the box and stand on the podium. So, it’s a slightly different feeling. But nonetheless, we take it. I’m really, really pleased for the guys, for the mood inside the garage.”
