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 follow 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, excellent FP2,” beamed Gasly afterward. “It got here slightly bit as a shock. We didn’t actually count on to have such good tempo. We’ll take that!”
“The tip end result – ending in fourth place – in all probability 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 vehicles 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 ultimate follow and essential qualifying periods.
“This morning we had some points on my automobile on the aero facet,” Gasly stated. “However we managed to repair it in FP2, and straight from the beginning it felt good.
“I used to be pleased with the lap and fairly positively stunned,” he admitted. “It put a smile on my face after I noticed the place we have been.
“By way of feeling there are nonetheless a couple of issues which I’m not very snug with within the automobile that I’d like to enhance for tomorrow, however we’ve obtained positively baseline to work with.”
“It was scorching on the market, there was some degradation and I feel we form of count on circumstances to be just like final yr,” he stated. “I haven’t seen but the way it seems to be in comparison with the opposite guys.”
“We’ll work to ensure we handle to high quality tune and proceed to enhance for tomorrow,” he added.
Ocon was equally puzzled however simply delighted to see the group performing so effectively immediately. “It’s fascinating. A little bit bit surprising, actually. We have to perceive why it’s working so effectively in the intervening time.
“Clearly we do a variety of testing right here in Barcelona and it’s fascinating simply to determine the place the automobile is within the optimum state. A lot of the improvement is finished with this format.
“It reveals that if we have now 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 by which France are set to tackle the Netherlands within the group stage of the European soccer championships.
“To date it’s been a constructive Friday,” stated Gasly. “France is enjoying tonight so hopefully it may stay a constructive Friday to the tip!”
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