Bahrain Grand Prix: Gasly’s pleasant surprise
Pierre Gasly secures a top 5 finish in the first qualifying session of the 2021 season! Great potential for AlphaTauri, but a strategic error with Yuki Tsunoda.

AlphaTauri can see the big picture! Pierre Gasly secured the 5th place in the qualifying session of the Bahrain Grand Prix, the opening round of the 2021 season.
A 5th place on the grid and a good strategy!
The winner of the 2020 Italian Grand Prix was even in the top 3 after his first run in Q3. But Gasly was ultimately beaten by Valtteri Bottas and Charles Leclerc, a friend of the Frenchman. No matter, the driver #10 still had a delighted look when speaking to Sky Sports F1’s microphone:
« I am very happy about this first qualification of the year. It’s always good to have a good foundation and to start the season in the best possible way. Honestly, we didn’t expect it!
Qualifying session punctuates a very good Saturday for the French driver, who allowed himself the luxury of advancing to Q3 on medium tyres, like Max Verstappen and the two Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. Gasly will be able to build an optimal strategy by switching to soft tyres in the second part of the race. A good advantage for the race, as highlighted by the AlphaTauri team leader.
Pierre Gasly: « Honestly, we didn’t expect it! »
Gasly and the Sakhir circuit, the beautiful story continues with a new 5th place in qualifying. The driver originally from Rouen had already finished 5th in qualifying in 2018, on board his Toro Rosso. With a 4th place at the finish this Sunday, just like three years ago?
Gasly congratulates his teammate Tsunoda.
Galvanized by a good Q1 (Tsunoda 2nd, Gasly 4th!), the team led by Franz Tost was still too greedy. While Gasly made it to Q3, Yuki Tsunoda remained stranded in Q2, 13th with his mediums. It’s a shame because the Q1 time promised great spectacle: the rookie had actually finished 2nd, between Hamilton and Verstappen!
A performance highlighted by Gasly: « he did a good job. He still made some mistakes here and there but when he puts it all together, he is very fast » concluded the AlphaTauri team leader!