If a Formula 1 team needed good results of Saturday’s qualifying session, it was Alpine. Entering the Bahrain Grand Prix as the only team to score this season, strong result Frarom Pierre Gasly or Jack Doohan Wolded gives them a much-needed Confide Boost that is on their way on Sunday.
Alpine got exactly what they were hoping for.
Pierre Gasly stormed in Q3 and threatened for the top three, eventually eligible for the Bahrain Grand Prix. As far as the Rookie Doohan, he used his best qualifying performance of the season, threatening Q3 before he only missed 0.017 seconds.
Still, with Gasly who starts in fifth place and Doohan 11th, both divers are able to bring points home tomorrow.
“That was a good qualification and we certainly needed that,” said Gasly in the post-qualifying report of the team. “I am very happy for the entire team with deduction and performance. Down and really more and more have been taken out of the session.
“Anyway, to be fifth and so close to the top three and even pole position is a nice surprise. Great work around the entire team and now we have to concentrate on tomorrow. We have fast cars behind us, we will try to fight within the points.”
On the other side of the garage, Doohan admitted that he had “mixed emots” after strong performance that he still saw on the outside of Q3.
“After that session I have mixed emotions, even if most of the evening was largely positive. We start the race of tomorrow in our best starting position of the year by my side,” said Doohan. “It all came together with the first Q1 and most of Q2.
“Anyway, many positives there and things to underestimate for the future. Tomorrow will be a long race, with high tires relegation Quito probably,” Doohan continued. “Starting in eleventh means that we are right on the door of the points, so that we will see what we can do on strategy and strive for converting today in a top ten finish in the race.”