Pierre Gasly once again distinguished himself during the Qatar Grand Prix, snatching an unexpected fifth place to say the least.
Pierre Gasly delivered a superb performance during the Qatar Grand Prix, securing a deserved fifth place after an intense race full of twists and turns. The Alpine driver, who was able to take advantage of the strengths of his A524 single-seater, expressed his satisfaction with this unexpected result.
A difficult start but strategic management
Gasly didn't have the best start, losing several positions in the first few laps. However, the Frenchman remained focused and relied on a careful strategy to move up the rankings.
“I didn't have a very good start, but I kept calm. The car was working well, I managed to manage the tires and overtake Yuki [Tsunoda] and Alonso” he confided after the race.
Facing Kevin Magnussen, Gasly took a smart approach, saving his tires before attacking at the right moment.
“I felt I was faster than him. Once he stopped I was able to fully exploit our pace. The changes made to the car after the Sprint clearly paid off.”
A high voltage end of race
The Alpine driver also had to face several moments of fear, notably during a restart after an intervention by the Safety Car. Gasly explained that he narrowly avoided an incident with Sergio Pérez.
“When Pérez spun, I had to go off the track to avoid hitting him. This caused me to collect a lot of dust, and later I locked my front tires in a corner. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to brake in time.”
Despite these obstacles, Gasly was able to keep Carlos Sainz behind him and maintain his fifth place until the checkered flag, although his car suffered from strong vibrations at the end of the race.
A competitive Alpine and crucial points
Gasly was keen to highlight the progress of Alpine, which is showing good momentum in several races: “We have been fast for some time, like in Vegas where we started in third position. These points are essential to finish the season in style.”
The Frenchman seems more determined than ever to continue this momentum, once again affirming his key role in Alpine's recovery at the end of the season.
