Alpine driver Pierre Gasly admitted that he hadn’t been anticipating to function fairly so excessive up the timings on the finish of Friday’s observe periods for this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.
Gasly was fourth quickest in FP2, inside two tenths of tempo setter Lewis Hamilton, placing him forward of Purple Bull driver Max Verstappen when the chequered flag got here out.
“I have to say it was a really, superb FP2,” beamed Gasly afterward. “It got here just a little bit as a shock. We didn’t actually count on to have such good tempo. We’ll take that!”
“The tip consequence – ending in fourth place – most likely flatters us, and it was definitely a shock. However a pleasing shock
Alpine are present down in eighth within the constructors standings after a troubled begin to the 2024 season, however they’ve been rebuilding their confidence in latest outings and had each automobiles end within the factors in Montreal.
They’re hoping for a similar once more in Barcelona, with Esteban Ocon additionally ending FP2 within the high ten heading into Saturday’s remaining observe and essential qualifying periods.
“This morning we had some points on my automobile on the aero facet,” Gasly mentioned. “However we managed to repair it in FP2, and straight from the beginning it felt good.
“I used to be proud of the lap and fairly positively shocked,” he admitted. “It put a smile on my face after I noticed the place we have been.
“When it comes to feeling there are nonetheless a number of issues which I’m not very comfy with within the automobile that I’d like to enhance for tomorrow, however we’ve obtained undoubtedly a superb baseline to work with.”
“It was scorching on the market, there was some degradation and I believe we form of count on situations to be just like final yr,” he mentioned. “I haven’t seen but the way it appears to be like in comparison with the opposite guys.”
“We’ll work to ensure we handle to advantageous tune and proceed to enhance for tomorrow,” he added.
Ocon was equally puzzled however simply delighted to see the crew performing so nicely right this moment. “It’s attention-grabbing. A little bit bit surprising, actually. We have to perceive why it’s working so nicely for the time being.
“Clearly we do a whole lot of testing right here in Barcelona and it’s attention-grabbing simply to determine the place the automobile is within the optimum state. Many of the improvement is completed with this format.
“It exhibits that if we now have that tempo tomorrow, that the automobile is working with this type of format,” he identified. “We’ll maintain attempting, maintain digging and hopefully discover some tempo from tomorrow.”
Hopefully the all-French squad will not be too distracted by occasions elsewhere in Europe this night during which France are set to tackle the Netherlands within the group stage of the European soccer championships.
“Thus far it’s been a optimistic Friday,” mentioned Gasly. “France is taking part in tonight so hopefully it may stay a optimistic Friday to the top!”
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