SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Dec. 9, 2024 – Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan took to the Yas Marina Circuit today for the first two practice sessions of the 2024 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Gasly showed promising pace in FP1, while Doohan gained valuable experience in his first official F1 outing.
Gasly Faces Setup Challenges in FP2
Pierre Gasly started the day strong, securing a P5 finish in Free Practice 1 with a time of 1 minute 25.333 seconds. However, he faced challenges in FP2, struggling with understeer and front grip, ultimately finishing P12 with a time of 1 minute 24.517 seconds.
"Free Practice 1 felt strong," Gasly commented. "We had good potential in the car and we managed to put some good laps together. Free Practice 2, however, felt very different. I struggled with understeer and front grip in general. We tried some different set-ups but we were not able to find much improvement."
Despite the setback, Gasly remains optimistic. "As always it is tight on the timesheets and a couple of tenths will make a big difference between positions," he added. "We will work hard to find the right changes and aim to have better performance tomorrow when it counts."
Doohan Gains Valuable Experience in First F1 Outing
Jack Doohan, stepping in for Esteban Ocon, had a busy day familiarizing himself with the A524 car and the Yas Marina Circuit. He completed 51 laps in both FP1 and FP2, focusing on building his confidence and gathering data for the team.
"Firstly, a great experience in the car in Abu Dhabi in what was a very busy day," said Doohan. "There’s a lot to understand and learn and it was good to get a lot of laps in across both sessions."
Doohan acknowledged that FP2 presented new challenges. "Free Practice 2 was obviously new territory for me!" he exclaimed. "I just tried to build up the laps and my first few runs in the second session were not the cleanest on my side but that is all part of Practice."
Looking ahead to Saturday, Doohan is eager to continue improving. "There are some steps to make ahead of Free Practice 3 for the team and I look forward to debriefing with the engineers to find those improvements," he said. "I am aiming to get more comfortable with each lap and keep pushing closer to where I want to be."
A Busy Day at Yas Marina
Both drivers completed a total of 102 laps, covering 539 kilometers over the two practice sessions. They utilized the C3, C4, and C5 Pirelli tire compounds, gathering valuable data on tire performance and degradation in the hot Abu Dhabi conditions.
Focus Shifts to Qualifying
With Friday's practice sessions complete, the focus now shifts to Saturday's qualifying session, where Gasly and Doohan will aim to secure strong grid positions for Sunday's race. Gasly will be looking to bounce back from his FP2 struggles, while Doohan will aim to build on his experience and continue his development as an F1 driver.
Alpine's Hopes for the Weekend
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marks the final race of the 2024 Formula 1 season. Alpine will be hoping to end the year on a high, with Gasly aiming for a strong points finish and Doohan gaining valuable experience for the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is Jack Doohan driving instead of Esteban Ocon?
Jack Doohan is replacing Esteban Ocon for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The official press release did not provide a reason for Ocon's absence.
2. What challenges did Pierre Gasly face in Free Practice 2?
Gasly experienced understeer and a lack of front grip in FP2, which hindered his performance.
3. What are Jack Doohan's goals for the weekend?
Doohan aims to gain experience, build confidence, and improve his performance with each lap.
4. What tire compounds were used in Friday's practice sessions?
The drivers utilized the C3, C4, and C5 Pirelli tire compounds.
5. When is the qualifying session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
The qualifying session takes place on Saturday, December 10th. The specific time was not provided in the press release.