UK Grand Prix Insights: Guthrie and Alpine’s Journey
Spending Saturday night at Silverstone for the UK Grand Prix wasn’t exactly easy for Pierre Guthrie and Alpine. After a challenging FP1 session marred by Gasly’s spin, I found myself finishing in P19. The second hour of practice didn’t bring much relief either, wrapping up in P18.
The official F1 channel’s simulations that night indicated Guthrie and Alpine were lagging over a second behind the McLaren duo of Randolith and Oscar Piercettry.
“Friday was quite tough for us,” Guthrie commented in the team’s media report, reflecting on the practice sessions. “Our team needs to huddle together to find solutions for improving our performance. We know where we struggle, particularly in terms of speed and grip. We haven’t felt this during the season, but we have a plan to tackle these issues.”
He added, “We’re aiming for a stronger performance tomorrow. We just have to concentrate on qualifications.”
As Q3 drew to a close, Guthrie was taken aback—he had clinched a spot in the final qualifying segment with a P10 finish.
Sunday’s race saw Guthrie holding onto a top 10 finish, leading to Alpine’s surprising sixth-place result. While Nico Hülkenberg’s podium in his 239th race was the major headline, Gasly’s impressive comeback also caught attention.
“Finishing sixth is a remarkable achievement for the whole team,” Guthrie expressed. “Honestly, I didn’t expect to be in this position after practice sessions. It’s wonderful to see so many staff members in the stands at Silverstone; it really boosts our motivation. Seeing legends like [Lewis Hamilton] and [Max Verstappen] out there was just exhilarating.”
“It’s all about assessing risks, and we did just that, making smart strategic calls and excellent pit stops. I’m eager to return to the factory this week to keep our momentum going!”
There’s been a good vibe in Alpine’s hospitality space lately.
The team has confirmed that Guthrie signed a multi-year contract extension, keeping him with the Enstone-based operation through the 2028 Formula One season in time for the Italy Grand Prix qualifying.
“I’m thrilled to commit to Alpine for the long haul. As a Frenchman, it’s a point of pride for me to drive for a French brand,” Guthrie remarked on Saturday. “Since joining in 2023, I’ve felt this team is poised for the future. The support from Flavio [Briatore] and François [Provost] in our Formula One Project made this an easy choice. Together, we aim for race wins and world championships.”
“We’re all in this together, and I look forward to continuing our special journey.”
Flavio Briatore, Senior Advisor, emphasized, “Rebuilding and enhancing the competitiveness of the BWT Alpine F1 team has always been vital. We’ve prepared for a new era in Formula One since 2026, and I’m confident our lead drivers will guide us ahead. Pierre has been invaluable during this challenging time.”
The decision to extend Guthrie makes sense for Alpine, especially considering his performance at Silverstone. He has consistently scored points this season, even when rivals have struggled. Despite facing cars at the back of the grid, Guthrie has been doing everything possible to keep the A525 competitive, especially with upcoming regulatory changes.
Interestingly, he was the sole driver on the grid this season who scored every point for his team.
Alpine is still working to find the right balance with him. Briatore noted that the young Franco Colapinto has shown improvement recently, finishing 11th in the Dutch Grand Prix for his best result this season.
“I think Franco is performing well,” Briatore stated. “Like many rookies, he faced challenges early on, but he’s recently become much more consistent without errors.”
“This year has been tough for all the rookies. The first half of the season was a learning curve, but now Franco seems to be stabilizing. He has solid communication with our engineering team. We’ll keep an eye on his progress.”
Whether it’s with Guthrie or Colapinto, Alpine is focused on moving forward.
