Gasly counts on "rusty" Tsunoda and Alpine upgrade to close Racing Bulls gap

Gasly sees opening in Tsunoda’s return

Pierre Gasly has welcomed Yuki Tsunoda back to the Zandvoort grid, but the Alpine driver also sees the Racing Bulls returnee’s lack of recent running as a potential advantage. The pair were previously teammates during their AlphaTauri days, and Gasly’s familiarity with Tsunoda shaped his answer when asked how Alpine could close the gap to the in-form Racing Bulls.

Tsunoda’s return was already outlined in this report on his Racing Bulls comeback at the Dutch Grand Prix, but the timing creates an immediate test. With no FP2 session during the Sprint format, there is less opportunity to rebuild rhythm through extended practice running. Any hesitation would therefore be difficult to hide at a circuit and weekend format that leave little room for adjustment.

Alpine’s upgrade is the bigger story

“They are looking very competitive, the last few events were definitely impressive in terms of car pace and the amount of points they scored,” Gasly said. “On our side all we can do is try to bring that performance which hopefully will be the case with that upgrade.”

That upgrade is Alpine’s key variable at Zandvoort. Gasly said he had been waiting for the package after a more difficult run of weekends, with the team hoping it can return to the fight for fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship.

A tighter midfield battle

Alpine began the season as the fifth-best team, but Racing Bulls’ progress before the break has transformed what appeared to be a comfortable position into a genuine contest. The development trajectory has shifted the balance, leaving Alpine needing an immediate response rather than relying on its earlier advantage.

Gasly returns from the break feeling refreshed and enthusiastic about the second half of the year. Whether that renewed energy becomes points will depend on the upgrade’s track performance—and on how quickly Tsunoda removes the rust from his return.