Austria: Gasly, Ocon and Grosjean, all eliminated in Q2!

Reunited again after Ocon’s forced break in 2019, the three French musketeers finally experienced a similar Saturday, the first of this 2020 season. All failed in Q2, but the overall assessment is different for Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, and Romain Grosjean.

The AlphaTauri (formerly Toro Rosso) driver is certainly the most satisfied of the trio. Beaten by Kvyat yesterday afternoon in FP2, Pierre Gasly took charge of his team again on Saturday. 9th in FP3, the Norman continued his momentum by finishing in a solid 12th place, ahead of his garage neighbor. There is especially the impression that Gasly could not have done better. “We are really satisfied,” he reacted on the spot to Laurent Dupin’s microphone, present for Canal+ in the paddock.

« After the winter tests and yesterday’s trials (editor’s note: Friday), we knew it would be really complicated for us. In the end, we have both cars passing into Q2. We finish two positions behind Charles (editor’s note: Leclerc) and Vettel, so that’s where we are today. We are still missing a little to reach the top 10. »

Close to the Ferrari drivers, Pierre Gasly is “surprised” to finish just behind them.

By adding: « after it’s more Renault, McLaren, or Racing Point who have made a big step. We are missing compared to them so we really need to work well over the next few weeks. We have improvements coming to the car, I hope it will bring us closer to the top 10. »

For tomorrow, Gasly naturally knows that he will need to have “a good start,” in the middle of the pack. “We mainly have options for the strategy, so I hope we’ll find something that works,” he added, likely with the hint of a smile behind his mask.

« We are really satisfied! »

Disappointed, the new Renault driver told Canal+ that this Saturday is not what he had hoped for.

« it’s been a long time but we don’t make excuses » conceded Esteban Ocon, for his first qualifying session in F1… since Saturday, November 24, 2018, in Abu Dhabi. In Austria this Saturday, the Frenchman was thoroughly beaten by Daniel Ricciardo, six-tenths of a second gap in Q2, and four places difference compared to the Australian on the grid.

And even though Ocon encountered engine issues on the straights, his assessment is ultimately critical:

« We could have done better but we didn’t. There are plenty of little details that we could have improved but we failed. We had some small problems, we need to review all that, do better, and come back stronger tomorrow. »

Fortunately for him, the race pace seen during FP2 gives hope to Esteban Ocon, who adds:

« There is no magic wand, but normally we should have good race pace, we saw it in FP2. We’ll try to move up in the race and score points. » A top 10, the new Renault driver has been waiting for it since the Japanese Grand Prix (9th). That was a little over 21 months ago… on October 7, 2018!

« It’s been a long time but we don’t make excuses for ourselves! »

Great performance this Saturday by Romain Grosjean. In a difficult context, with a capricious car, the Haas driver made it through Q1. He reflects on the progress made since the very start of the season: « it’s true that since winter testing, we’ve seen that our qualifying pace isn’t extraordinary » emphasized Grosjean on Canal+.

The analysis from the former Lotus driver is ultimately tinged with hope: « The race pace is better, unlike our car last year. I think we can work on the car and improve it. It’s certain that for now we’re in the pack with Alfa Romeo and Williams, just a bit behind Renault, AlphaTauri, and Ferrari. But we’re racing on the same track next week: we’ll be able to experiment and see how to improve the car. »

Romain Grosjean will start in any case this Sunday ahead of his teammate Kevin Magnussen, who remained at the Q1 stage (16th) this Saturday afternoon at the Red Bull Ring.

« It’s true that for now we are in the wagon with Alfa Romeo and Williams, just a bit far from Renault, AlphaTauri, and Ferrari. »