Pierre Gasly stumped by sudden pace loss after Q2 exit in Madrid

Pierre Gasly said he had no explanation for a dramatic drop-off in performance that ended his session in Q2 at the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, after an encouraging build-up suggested Alpine could fight inside the top ten at the Madring.

The Alpine driver qualified 14th and was eliminated in Q2 alongside both Audis, Esteban Ocon and Yuki Tsunoda.

“Q1 was nowhere already. Q2 was nowhere,” Gasly said. “I mean, at the moment, absolutely no idea how the car changed that much from the whole weekend. I mean, I was super comfortable in the car, very happy with the balance. And what happened in quali, I’ve never felt that.”

He said he would need to go back through the data with his engineers to understand where the car’s grip had gone. “So, yeah, I think I just need to get back and understand, because I’m always with the guys, where the grip went, all my traction, laying rubber every corner, sideways and all the ice. It just feels like something is not quite right. So, yeah, we’ll dig.”

Asked whether the issue went beyond a normal setup or track temperature, Gasly said the team would investigate. “We’ll see, but yeah, something along these lines, because the shift of balance and grip, and we see drop the fuel, etc. It’s the second half of the start. So, just something doesn’t quite add up. And yeah, I look at the gaps, etc. It’s just like, from the start of the lap to the end, I’m spending the whole lap turning the opposite side. So, it doesn’t make sense.”

He was blunt about his prospects for Sunday. “Honestly, with this car tomorrow, I’m not going anywhere. So, I need to take some chances tonight.”

Gasly said conditions had generally improved through the weekend, and noted the lower formulae appeared to be benefiting from the same trend, though he cautioned that the Madring’s high-speed sections and banking could still shape the race.

Asked whether he expected a hectic Grand Prix or not, he said: “I don’t know. I just want to get back in the office and get the answers I need.”