Alpine’s Tough Season Takes a Hit at the Belgian Grand Prix
Alpine Racing faced yet another setback at the Belgian Grand Prix, where driver Pierre Gasly encountered a significant car issue just before the Sprint race began. A mere 15 minutes before the start of Saturday’s short-form race, Gasly’s car was pulled from the grid due to a technical malfunction.
Having previously qualified impressively in eighth place, Gasly was eager to secure a points finish. He had joined his fellow competitors for reconnaissance laps at the iconic Circuit Spa-Francorchamps, aiming for a strong performance in the weekend’s first of two races. However, disaster struck when he experienced a sudden power loss while heading to the grid.
Despite Alpine’s instructions to head to the pit lane for a check, Gasly opted to position himself at the back of the grid, ready to take his starting position. Unfortunately, once his engineers began to assess the situation, they discovered the problem was far more serious than anticipated. They removed the engine cover and quickly identified a water leak issue that couldn’t be resolved in time. As a result, Gasly’s car was taken back to the garage just moments before the Sprint race commenced.
Frustrated, the 29-year-old driver exited his vehicle and engaged in discussions with team principal Flavio Briatore and his engineering team about the unexpected setback. Compounding Alpine’s difficulties, Gasly’s teammate, Franco Colapinto, was also set to start from the pit lane after necessary modifications were made to his car. With Colapinto having qualified in the bottom five, the prospects for both drivers to score points appeared bleak.
In summary, Alpine’s challenging season continues as they grapple with unexpected technical issues, leaving both drivers with an uphill battle in their quest for valuable championship points.
