Alpine F1 drivers Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan have opened up about their rather anonymous Japanese GP race on Sunday after both drivers finished outside the top ten. The French team has failed to reach the points in 2025, the only outfit on the grid yet to do so.
Despite massive improvement in the first sector at Suzuka, Gasly was unable to make it out of the second segment of qualifying. Starting from P11 on the grid, the Frenchman took the chequered flag in thirteenth place.
Meanwhile, following his massive shunt in FP2, Doohan lost confidence in the high-speed corners and only managed to qualify in nineteenth place ahead of Lance Stroll. Although he gained several positions and crossed the line in P15, the young Aussie has yet to score his first points in Formula 1.
Gasly expected more from the A525 in Sunday’s race
Speaking in the print media zone afterwards, Pierre Gasly confessed that he had anticipated better performance from the Alpine A525 and that he found Sunday’s race at the F1 Japanese GP somewhat difficult to manage.
Although he acknowledged that the car had a decent balance, the 29-year-old rued their general lack of pace in certain sectors of the track and his sluggish pit stop that further compromised his progress. Nonetheless, he clarified that they didn’t have the pace advantage to challenge the midfielders and finish in the top ten anyway.
“To be honest, I had hoped for a bit better than what we did. I think it was a bit tricky.
“The car actually felt alright, well balanced. I think we actually got everything out of the package we have at the moment. We were just a bit too slow, not talking much compared to our main competitors, but just lacking a bit of pace in some areas around the track.
“They’re quite obvious which areas we’re losing. [At the] pit stop, [we] lost a few seconds there. So, we’ll review exactly what happened. But it would not have changed the whole race.
“Ultimately, we’re just lacking a bit of pace to get in these last two or three spots in the top 10 behind the top teams.”
Alpine’s lack of straight-line speed made them vulnerable during the race
In reference to Alpine lacking straight-line speed in qualifying and whether the problem became more pronounced during the race as the battery got drained and energy recovery came into play, Pierre Gasly admitted that he was vulnerable to attacks from behind. At the same time, he explained that this disadvantage made him unable to attempt an overtake on Fernando Alonso and gain a position.
Reflecting on the compromises Alpine made during the F1 Japanese GP weekend, the one-time race winner highlighted their gains in the high-speed corners and remarked that they are intent on exploring more avenues to unlock the full potential of the A525.
“I think it’s just like you get more vulnerable.
“In a way, you’re not really in a strong position to attack. I was a few laps behind Fernando [Alonso], but I was never close enough to actually try something into the last chicane or into Turn 1. And then at the same time, you’re quite vulnerable as soon as you get someone quite close behind.
“We know the compromises of the package we have. I think on the other side, [in] the first sector, high-speed corner, we’re very competitive, faster than all the cars around us.
“But then we’ll see if there are better compromises we need to make to either get more out of it or just be slightly more raceable.”
Gasly says lack of degradation made overtaking even more difficult
On the topic of the 2025 F1 Japanese GP producing very few overtakes and the combination of the track layout, dirty air, and resurfaced tarmac leading to a dull race, Pierre Gasly reiterated how challenging it was for the Alpine to get closer to the cars ahead. He further elaborated that the lack of tyre degradation brought all teams closer in terms of relative pace and made overtaking considerably difficult.
Stating that they need to gain a couple of tenths in the next few weekends, the Frenchman asserted that slightly higher starting positions would provide them with better opportunities to score their first points of the season.
“Yeah, I think so. It just seemed very tricky to just get very close. As soon as you get within six, seven tenths, to really close down that last gap is extremely difficult.
“And then you’re not doing much management. So basically when all the cars are very similar in terms of performance, it’s very difficult to actually make that pass.
“But that’s what it is. I think at the end, we did a strong quali. Looking back at yesterday on the GPS, we were actually pretty strong throughout the whole lap. And then in the race, it was quite similar.
“So, I think we just need to see where [we can make gains]. One, two tenths can make a big difference. Suddenly, you jump two or three places, start slightly further up the road, and I think that’s what we need to aim at for the coming weekends.”
Gasly eager to drive again in Bahrain and gauge their progress
Revealing that the Alpine F1 car performed better on the hard compound tyres than on the medium during Sunday’s Japanese GP, Pierre Gasly added that he is looking forward to driving in Bahrain and comparing how far they have come since pre-season testing at the same venue.
“Inside the car, the medium felt like we struggled a bit more in that compound. The hard balance was great and that was all we had in the car.
“A bit of work to do, but the good thing is we go to Bahrain on the track. So, I’m looking forward to going back there and seeing how the car feels.”
With regard to what their expectations are heading into Bahrain, Gasly responded that he expects the French outfit to fare better in the upcoming race. Nevertheless, acknowledging that the circuit theoretically suits their car better, the 29-year-old remarked that the difference in track conditions in comparison to that of F1 testing might produce a different outcome.
“Yes, I think so. I mean, [in] Bahrain, the testing was good.
“Obviously, it’s going to be 20 degrees hotter this time. So it’s going to change a few things. But let’s say it’s probably on paper a track that suits the car maybe a bit more.”
Gasly confident that Alpine will be competitive as the season progresses
In terms of the modifications Alpine have made to the A525 from Shanghai onwards and whether they could label those positive changes as a turning point despite their underwhelming results at the F1 Japanese GP, Pierre Gasly responded that it’s too early to draw any conclusions.
Emphasising how tight the competition is among multiple teams for the final few points-scoring positions, the Frenchman sounded optimistic that Alpine would find themselves in the mix if they focus on their own development and extract the much-needed performance.
“I think, honestly, I wouldn’t really look too much at it. Obviously, it’s normal and people will look at the championship situation and might make some early conclusions.
“It doesn’t feel like that because it really feels that for these last few points, we have many cars and we’re part of the group that’s going to be battling all season for those points. We’re not maybe the favourites at the minute, looking at AlphaTauri, Williams as well.
“We’re extremely fast, but I’m confident we’ll get them at some point. It’s just been a bit unfortunate the first two races. We need to get a bit more performance for sure, but I’m confident it will come.
“We just need to focus on ourselves and I’m confident we’ll get these points.”
Doohan says aggressive strategy was better for the start but not over race distance
Commenting on his results in the print media zone afterwards, Jack Doohan acknowledged that the aggressive strategy of starting on the soft tyres at the F1 Japanese GP allowed him to gain positions in the first half of the race. However, given his early pit stop on lap 15, he stated that the long second stint on the hard compound tyres left him vulnerable towards the end.
Nonetheless, noting how he failed to carry out his race simulation runs following his FP2 crash, Doohan admitted that he is fairly satisfied with the outcome.
“Yeah, I think the strategy was aggressive. It gave us the best opportunity to move forward.
“However, I don’t think it was the best strategy for overall race time, let’s say. We were able to execute the undercut, which was great. However, with 25 laps to go, we certainly were in a bit of a tricky situation when it came to tyre life because I pushed like a dog from coming out of the box.
“I think in the end, we can’t be too unhappy. I went in a bit dark into this session with no high-fuel running at all.
“We were able to move forward in a race like today. We’re just going to keep our heads high, keep pushing, and try to bounce back and get some points in Bahrain.”
Doohan pleased to make aggressive strategy work despite point-less finish
Asked how difficult it was to avoid making mistakes in the last 30 laps with multiple cars right up on his gearbox, Jack Doohan quipped that it wasn’t a novel experience after holding off Isack Hadjar for 20-odd laps in Shanghai.
Although Carlos Sainz ultimately made a successful pass on him, the 22-year-old commented that he was pleased to keep three other cars—which he had previously undercut—behind.
“I think I had a good experience from that after China. So, it wasn’t anything new to me, being harassed for the last 25 laps of the race. It’s just all good experience for me as well, good learning.
“I wasn’t able to keep Carlos [Sainz] behind on the new soft tyres, which was a bit of a bummer. All in all, to keep Hulk [Nico Hülkenberg], [Liam] Lawson, [Esteban] Ocon, I think those are the three cars that I undercut. We have to be content with that.”
Despite the results not being up to the mark, Doohan referred to Stroll’s P20 finish at the F1 Japanese GP on a similar strategy and concurred with a journalist that making up four places in a race where only a handful of overtakes took place was an impressive feat for him and Alpine.
“Yeah, exactly. Not where I want to be finishing all in all. But if you take into account it was a bit of a stalemate race for most, for us to be able to execute something [was positive].
“Obviously Lance [Stroll] boxed from behind me a few laps earlier on that same soft strategy. We were able to at least execute that. As you can see from his point of view, it wasn’t maybe the mega strategy, but we were able to at least make the most of it.”
Unsure what to expect but is eager to bounce back in Bahrain
In terms of whether he is excited to race in Bahrain after a couple of difficult races on tracks he wasn’t really familiar with, Jack Doohan responded that he is looking forward to it.
At the same time, referring to the drastic change in track conditions that the teams will experience at Sakhir in comparison to Suzuka, the Australian admitted that he is hesitant to set any specific expectations ahead of the race weekend.
“Yeah, exactly. But we’re going to have completely different conditions.
“Today was, with sector one being resurfaced, it was basically full push every single lap. We ended with these cold conditions and now we’re going to Bahrain, which is super abrasive, 30 degrees. We’re going to see a completely different shift.
“Who knows? We’re just going to keep our heads high, keep motivated, keep pushing. I look forward to bouncing back from this weekend.”
