Alpine has implemented stricter radio communications protocols in an effort to support Pierre Gasly, who currently sits closest to a race ban due to penalty points. When Gasly joined Alpine, he had accumulated 10 penalty points, with a race ban triggered by reaching 12 points. Currently, he has eight points, and two of them are set to expire on July 10th.
With three races scheduled before the expiration date—Canada, Austria, and Silverstone—Alpine has outlined its plans to assist Gasly. This includes refining their radio communications following Gasly’s recent three-place grid penalties for impeding rivals during qualifying at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Team boss Otmar Szafnauer revealed that they held a meeting with Gasly and his engineering team between the races in Spain and the upcoming event to discuss communication strategies, the timing of information relayed to Gasly, and how he can effectively utilize that information.
Gasly qualified in fourth place at the Barcelona circuit but lost positions after starting in seventh and eventually finished the race in tenth. In contrast, his teammate Esteban Ocon, who started in seventh, crossed the line in eighth.
Szafnauer expressed his disappointment, noting that Gasly’s race could have been significantly different had he maintained his fourth-place starting position instead of being pushed wide and dropping to 14th after the first lap. The team aims to ensure that when Gasly qualifies well, they can translate that performance into a strong race result.
Alpine recognizes the need for improved coordination and communication with Gasly, especially given his high qualifying positions. In contrast, Ocon, who has been with the team for a longer period, has developed a stronger rapport with his engineering team.
By tightening up their radio communications and refining their strategies, Alpine hopes to provide Gasly with the necessary support to optimize his performance on track and avoid any further penalty points, ensuring his continued participation in Formula 1 races without the looming threat of a race ban.
