Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto both secured places in the final qualifying session at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, marking Alpine’s third double Q3 appearance this season. Gasly led the way for the team by qualifying seventh, while Colapinto took tenth, highlighting Alpine’s ongoing competitiveness in a closely contested midfield battle.
Gasly reached as high as sixth during the session before settling for seventh on the grid. He expressed satisfaction with the car’s balance and felt confident about Alpine’s potential to score points in Baku. However, Gasly noted that yellow flags interrupted his final runs, suggesting that without those disruptions, he might have qualified higher, possibly ahead of Lewis Hamilton.
Alpine currently finds itself in a tight points fight with Racing Bulls for the position of ‘best of the rest’ behind the leading teams, with a nine-point gap to close. Colapinto, meanwhile, qualified tenth but admitted to struggling with pace and braking zones during Q3. He experienced locking up and vibrations, which affected his performance, but remains optimistic about the team’s baseline and opportunities for improvement.
The qualifying results underline Alpine’s progress this season, as the team continues to challenge for strong midfield positions. Gasly’s ability to reach Q3 and maintain a competitive pace reflects the car’s development, while Colapinto’s experience in the final session provides valuable data for the team to build upon.
Gasly’s comments about the yellow flags disrupting his final attempts highlight the fine margins that can influence qualifying outcomes in the tight midfield battles. Despite these setbacks, his performance reinforces Alpine’s position as a contender for points finishes at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Colapinto’s acknowledgment of difficulties with braking and car balance during Q3 shows the areas where Alpine will focus on refining their setup. Both drivers and the team recognize there is room for improvement but remain encouraged by their current level of competitiveness.
Overall, the qualifying session demonstrated Alpine’s ability to place both cars in the top ten, a sign of consistent progress in the 2026 season. The team’s ongoing duel with Racing Bulls adds an extra layer of competition behind the front-runners, with Alpine aiming to narrow the points gap in the coming races.