Pierre Gasly Celebrates Surprising Third-Place Qualifying at Las Vegas Grand Prix

Strong Qualifying Position for Gasly

Pierre Gasly remained focused on the midfield battle in Formula 1 despite the excitement of qualifying in an unexpected third place for the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday. This strong grid position marked Alpine’s best of the season and came after their impressive podium double in Brazil.

Gasly will start ahead of several top drivers, including Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the championship leader, and McLaren’s title contender Lando Norris. The only cars ahead of him are pole-sitter George Russell’s Mercedes and Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari, both of whom are ranked higher than Gasly in the championship standings.

Gasly’s Reflections on the Achievement

Gasly shared with reporters, “We know where our target lies. We are fighting Haas and AlphaTauri in the constructors’ championship.” He added, “Regardless of what happens in qualifying, it’s an amazing achievement. It’s great to be ahead of Max and McLaren. But ultimately, this is not our battle.”

Alpine’s Battle in the Constructors’ Championship

Currently, Alpine is in sixth place in the constructors’ championship, a position they secured after a strong points haul in Brazil, moving them up from ninth. However, they are just three points ahead of Haas and five ahead of AlphaTauri.

• Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg qualified ninth.
• AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda will start seventh.
• Gasly’s teammate, Esteban Ocon, who finished second in Brazil, qualified 11th.

Gasly’s Personal Milestone

Gasly expressed that this qualifying result is a significant achievement for him personally, saying, “This is probably the first time I’ve qualified in the top three, and it feels special.” He also reflected on his 2020 Italian Grand Prix victory, where he won from 10th on the grid, emphasizing how far he has come.

A Rocky Start to the Season

The season began with Alpine struggling, as both Gasly and Ocon started from the back row in Bahrain. Gasly also faced difficult situations, starting from the back in Britain, from the pit lane in Hungary, and even being disqualified in Azerbaijan. However, despite these setbacks, the team has shown significant improvement since then.

Team’s Ongoing Progress and Leadership

Alpine’s team principal, Oliver Oakes, commented on Gasly’s growth, saying, “Pierre has been happy all weekend. Since Austin, we’ve seen progress with each race. Pierre is driving well, and you can tell he’s putting everything together.”

With the Las Vegas Grand Prix fast approaching, Gasly’s strong qualifying performance marks a high point in both his personal season and Alpine’s ongoing progress as they aim to maintain their position in the constructors’ standings.