F1 team issue official statement as star driver set for Canad

F1 team issue official statement as star driver set for Canadian GP demotiom…read

The Alpine Formula 1 team has officially announced that their driver, Pierre Gasly, will start the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix from the pit lane. This development comes after a challenging qualifying session for the French driver in Montreal, which initially placed him at 19th on the starting grid. Following the team’s decision to make significant changes to Gasly’s car setup after qualifying, a pit-lane start became the necessary course of action under the FIA regulations.

The team’s statement explained that alterations were made to Gasly’s car that are not permitted under parc fermé conditions unless a pit-lane start is accepted. In Formula 1, once qualifying concludes, cars are essentially locked under parc fermé rules, which restrict teams from making substantial setup adjustments or part changes without incurring penalties. When teams decide to modify certain elements, they must forfeit their grid position and start from the pit lane.

Gasly’s difficult qualifying session was the result of multiple factors, including unfavorable track conditions and traffic issues that hindered his ability to put together a clean lap. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is known for being challenging, especially when track evolution and rapidly changing weather conditions come into play. Unfortunately for Gasly, the circumstances worked against him during the crucial qualifying phases.

Alpine acknowledged that the modifications to Gasly’s car were aimed at improving performance and giving the driver a better chance of recovering positions during the race. The team emphasized that starting from the pit lane would allow them to make strategic setup changes that could not be implemented if Gasly were to start from his original grid slot.

Team Principal Bruno Famin addressed the situation in the official release, stating: “After assessing the performance from qualifying, we have taken the decision to adjust Pierre’s car setup to maximize his chances in the race. This unfortunately means he will start from the pit lane, but we believe it is the best strategic choice under the circumstances.”

Gasly also provided his reaction, expressing frustration over the qualifying result but looking forward to making progress during the race. “It was a very tough session for us, and obviously starting from the back is not ideal. But we have to look at the bigger picture and try to capitalize on any opportunities that arise in the race. Starting from the pit lane might give us some flexibility with strategy, so I’m staying focused and ready to fight.”

The Canadian Grand Prix is often unpredictable, with safety cars, changing weather, and on-track incidents frequently playing a role in shaping the outcome. This could provide Gasly and the Alpine team with some chances to make up ground despite the significant setback.

Gasly’s teammate, Esteban Ocon, managed to secure a better starting position and will be aiming to bring home points for the team. For Alpine, the 2024 season has been one of ups and downs, with occasional flashes of competitiveness but also several challenging weekends where the car’s pace has not matched that of their midfield rivals.

With both drivers determined to push forward in Sunday’s race, the team will hope that their revised setup for Gasly’s car can offer him a better balance and improved performance to mount a comeback. Meanwhile, fans will be watching to see whether Alpine’s bold decision pays off or whether the difficulties from qualifying will continue to hamper their race-day prospects.

The Canadian Grand Prix will offer yet another chapter in a season that has tested Alpine’s resilience, and Gasly’s pit-lane start will surely be a storyline to follow as the race unfolds.