Pierre Gasly is aiming to ‘speak the same language’ as his new team after a first day of testing with the Alpine F1 team at the F1 Abu Dhabi test.
The 2022 F1 post-season test at the Yas Marina Circuit will not only test Pirelli’s new compounds and structures for 2023, but will also be an opportunity for drivers who switch teams to adapt to new conditions on the racetrack. there were.
A day in the Red Bull F1 family throughout his career, Pierre Gasly had a huge opportunity to drive for the Alpine F1 team before making a permanent move from AlphaTauri.
The Scuderia finished ninth in the Constructors’ Championship this year and a move to fourth-ranked Alpine F1 Team could jump up the grid.
Reflecting on his time behind the wheel of the Alpine A522, Pierre Gasly said: “It was a very happy, positive surprise. Everything went very smoothly. I adapted very well.”
“It was the first time I was in a completely new environment, a completely new car, so I was open-minded.”
“At first, everything felt different – the steering, the feel, the throttle pedal, the stiffness of the pedal, the way it reacted.”
“I was a little surprised at first, but I was able to do everything I wanted to do.”
“I felt comfortable in the car very quickly and I understood why they finished fourth in the team’s championship. It all made sense for me.”
“So I’m really excited to see what happens next.”
While on-track experience with the new car is essential, operational priorities include working with new engineers and mechanics who may interact differently in driver feedback.
Regarding the difference between AlphaTauri and Alpine F1 machines, Pierre Guthrie commented, “The front grip was quite strong in medium-speed corners and low-speed corners.”
“They’re things I’ve been working on this season, things I’ve been looking for. I just got my first taste of what this car can do and how much it revs, and I immediately understood its potential.”
“The first day I started working with them in earnest, it went really well.”
“The main point of the day was to start working with the engineers, getting to know the mechanics in the garage and the people in the engineering room, speaking the same language about what you need to do as a driver, understeer, oversteer, etc. Feedback. in all of
“It was positive and I’m very happy with what I saw inside the garage.”
Category: F1 / Pierre Guthrie / Alpine