Gasly Blames Tsunoda for Monaco GP Exit Amid Alpine Struggles
Pierre Gasly attributed his early exit from the Monaco Grand Prix to a collision with former teammate Yuki Tsunoda, claiming that Tsunoda moved under braking at a critical moment. The incident occurred as both drivers pitted on Lap 1, with Gasly attempting to overtake Tsunoda at the chicane. Gasly’s statement about losing brakes was later clarified as a miscommunication, emphasizing he had the brakes but was caught off guard by Tsunoda’s positioning.
“I had the brakes,” Gasly explained. “Yuki made a mistake before the tunnel, which brought me closer. Every lap he was braking on the racing line, but this time he moved back onto it while I was already committed to the right. It was a tight situation with no space for two cars.”
In response to Gasly’s comments regarding "erratic driving," Tsunoda expressed his disbelief, asserting, “I don’t think I did anything wrong. I was hugging the wall and didn’t want to lose my position.”
The collision highlighted a difficult race for Alpine, which experienced its worst qualifying performance of the season, with Gasly starting from 18th and his teammate Franco Colapinto in last place. Colapinto managed to finish 13th in the race, while Gasly exited early.
Gasly acknowledged that the Monaco track exposed weaknesses in the Alpine A525, particularly regarding ride compliance over low-speed corners and kerbs. “We knew this track would not suit our car well,” he noted.
Looking ahead, Gasly remains optimistic about performance at the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix, a venue where Alpine secured points for both drivers last season. “Barcelona has more high-speed corners and a smoother surface, so I think it should suit us better,” he concluded.
Race Summary
- Event: Monaco Grand Prix
- Incident: Gasly collided with Tsunoda while attempting an overtake.
- Qualifying: Gasly (P18), Colapinto (last)
- Race Finish: Colapinto (P13), Gasly retired.
- Next Event: Spanish Grand Prix, where Gasly anticipates improved performance.
