Alpine targeting Monza win as team react to ‘class act’ Gasly claiming pole position

Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen has set out the team’s ambition to “try and win it” at the Italian Grand Prix after Pierre Gasly claimed an impressive pole position for the Enstone-based squad.

Having displayed strong pace throughout Qualifying – which saw him lead the timesheets in Q1 – Gasly managed to go fastest of all during the final segment to score his maiden pole in Formula 1, six years on from his debut victory at the same circuit.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 following the session, Nielsen praised the team for handling the busy track conditions well and successfully carrying out tows for Gasly and team mate Franco Colapinto.

“We put a big upgrade on Pierre's car in Zandvoort. That's also on Franco's car here,” said Nielsen. “I don't think we quite got the best out of the package in Zandvoort – it's a bit of a quirky circuit, but we've come here and the car is responding very well.

“We got the gaps right, we got the tows right. The drivers didn't make a mistake, and the lap time's clearly in the car, because both cars were quite quick.

“[The difference of a tow is] pretty big. A couple of tenths either way here is the difference between several places. If you get the tow, it's important.”

Nielsen went on to praise the performance of Gasly, hailing the 30-year-old as a “class act”.

“If you give him the machine, he'll deliver,” the Briton said. “We failed to do that a few times last year, and we haven't always given him the most competitive machinery this year, but when we have, he's delivered, particularly earlier in the season.

“So to see the team bounce back, to see him deliver on a track he knows well – he lives locally, he lives in Milan – it's wonderful. And of course, we mustn't forget Franco either. He did a great job today, so I really feel we've given them a good car, and who knows, anything's possible tomorrow.”

In terms of the prospects for race day, Nielsen suggested that the team’s “not very draggy” package should prove beneficial in that they could be “difficult to pass”.

“We didn't expect to be on pole position,“ he conceded. “We are. Tomorrow, [if we get] good starts, good strategy, good pit stops – who knows? Let's try and win it.”