Pierre Gasly reveals 'big ask' at Alpine with 'back of our head' admission

Pierre Gasly has said Alpine achieving fifth in the F1 constructors' championship this season will be a "big ask" but insists it remains in the back of collective minds at Team Enstone.

Currently sixth in the standings, Alpine finds itself 33 points adrift of Racing Bulls, with the Faenza-based squad powered to uncommon heights by the superb form of Liam Lawson.

Alpine, though more used to fighting at the front of the midfield than Gasly's former team, is a resurgent force itself this year, its first as a Mercedes power unit customer.

Last season, the French outfit endured a campaign to forget at the championship's only true backmarker, finishing bottom of the standings and 48 points behind its nearest rival, Sauber.

Asked whether Alpine could fight its way back into contention for fifth, Gasly pointed to recent performances to underline his scepticism. 

"Yeah, it's in the back of our head, obviously," the one-time grand prix winner told media, including RacingNews365.

"I think objectively, it's a big gap. Looking at the number of points we've scored in the last few weekends, it's definitely going to be a big ask."

Not focusing on the championship

Results have tailed off for Alpine over the course of the campaign, with a clear rise in finishes outside the top 10 around the summer break and into the second part of the year.

Therefore, Gasly is putting his energy towards his own pace and results, with the hope that focus in turn translates into points in the remaining races.

"But that's why I say I don't want to be too focused on the championship," the 30-year-old explained.

"I just want to look at my own performance, keep delivering Q3s whenever we have the pace to do it and translate it into points on Sunday. 

"So personally, I'll try to be in the points every Sunday. Whether it's going to be enough or not, we'll find out at the end of the year. But yeah, just try to take one session at a time..."