F1 Team Releases Official Statement as Star Driver Faces Canadian GP Setback
Alpine F1 Team has issued an official statement confirming that their driver, Pierre Gasly, will begin the Canadian Grand Prix from the pit lane, following significant changes made to his car after qualifying. The decision comes after a disappointing Saturday performance and a strategic call from the team to make modifications outside of FIA-regulated conditions.
Gasly had a tough outing in qualifying, ending the session in 19th place after struggling with the grip and setup of the car in tricky weather conditions at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The only driver initially behind him on the provisional grid was Yuki Tsunoda, who was hit with a 10-place grid penalty that dropped him to last.
However, the team has now confirmed that late adjustments made to Gasly’s car breached parc ferme regulations—a set of rules that prevent teams from making major changes to their cars between qualifying and the race without approval. These regulations are in place to ensure fairness and consistency across the grid. Any infringement, as in this case, results in the driver being required to start the race from the pit lane.
In their official statement, Alpine said:
“Pierre will start today’s Canadian Grand Prix from the pit lane after the team took his car out of parc ferme conditions.”
Although starting from the pit lane is often seen as a disadvantage, particularly on a track like Montreal where overtaking can be challenging, the team may be banking on the unpredictable nature of the Canadian Grand Prix. With the likelihood of changing weather, safety cars, and potential on-track incidents, there’s always a chance for drivers starting at the back to capitalize on chaos ahead.
This move could also allow Alpine to make changes to the car setup that could give Gasly more performance or better tire management during the race—factors that can play a key role in strategy and overall race result.
The FIA stewards are expected to confirm the penalty in an official notice prior to the race start, but Alpine’s statement makes it clear that they’ve accepted the consequence of their decision.
Gasly and Alpine will now be looking to make the most of the situation, focusing on race pace, strategy, and potential opportunities as they attempt to salvage a strong result from a challenging weekend.
