SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Dec. 4, 2024 – Alpine driver Pierre Gasly put in a strong performance in Friday's Sprint Qualifying session at the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix, securing a promising eighth-place starting position for Saturday's Sprint race. Teammate Esteban Ocon faced a more challenging qualifying session, finishing in 18th place.
Ocon Faces Challenges in Qualifying
Esteban Ocon had a difficult time in both Free Practice 1 and Sprint Qualifying. He finished P20 in Free Practice with a time of 1 minute 24.280 seconds and P18 in Sprint Qualifying with a time of 1 minute 22.906 seconds.
Ocon acknowledged the team's struggles, saying, “It’s been a tough evening and we did not manage to put together a better lap to qualify higher on the grid for tomorrow’s Sprint race. We need to continue to work with the team to find more performance and understand a few things."
Despite the setback, Ocon remains optimistic about the upcoming races. "We will try to take every opportunity that will present itself in tomorrow’s race as a lot can happen in these fast-paced events," he said. "We have another opportunity in Qualifying too so hopefully we can find some learnings overnight and find some improvements going into that session.”
Gasly Shines in Sprint Qualifying
Pierre Gasly showcased his skills with a solid performance in Sprint Qualifying. After finishing P15 in Free Practice 1 with a time of 1 minute 23.620 seconds, he significantly improved his performance in Sprint Qualifying, securing P8 with a time of 1 minute 21.978 seconds.
Gasly expressed satisfaction with his qualifying result. “I’m happy to qualify in eighth place in Sprint Qualifying," he stated. "The top four teams were very quick in the end, so I think qualifying in eighth was the best we could achieve today. We are in front of one Haas and one RB who we are in a fight with in the Championship."
Gasly also highlighted the importance of scoring points in the Sprint race. "Tomorrow, the top eight score points so we are in the mix. As we know, the Championship is tight so I expect a fight with Haas and RB in the Sprint. We must target points and we will give everything we can.”
Looking Ahead to the Sprint Race
With Gasly starting in the top 10, Alpine has a good chance of securing valuable points in the Sprint race. The team will be focusing on race strategy and tire management to maximize their performance. Ocon, despite starting further down the grid, will be aiming to make up positions and fight for a points finish.
The Sprint race promises to be an action-packed event, with close battles expected throughout the field. Fans can anticipate an exciting race as drivers compete for every position.
Keywords: Formula 1, Qatar Grand Prix, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, Sprint Qualifying, Alpine F1 Team, motorsport, racing
Meta Description: Pierre Gasly secures a strong starting position for the Sprint race at the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix, while teammate Esteban Ocon faces challenges in qualifying.