Alpine had a mixed yet promising qualifying session in Jeddah, securing another Q3 appearance with Pierre Gasly, while team-mate Jack Doohan narrowly missed progressing beyond Q1. Gasly, finishing ninth, acknowledged the session’s positives but felt opportunities were missed that could have placed him higher on the grid. “On the whole, it is positive that we made it back-to-back Q3 appearances” Gasly commented, emphasising Alpine’s improving performance. Despite feeling he could have extracted more, Gasly remains optimistic about challenging for points, focusing on competing closely with Carlos Sainz ahead.
Jack Doohan faced a tougher day, finishing 17th and missing Q2 by a slim margin. Despite this setback, Doohan saw clear improvements over previous practice sessions. “It’s not the end result we wanted, but overall, I’m pleased with the steps we made” he stated. Significant overnight adjustments left him feeling more comfortable with the car, providing confidence to chase points in the race. Doohan emphasised the circuit’s overtaking opportunities and the potential advantages Alpine can gain through strategic decisions during the race.
Racing Director Dave Greenwood shared a balanced assessment of the team’s day. He noted satisfaction with another Q3 performance but highlighted the disappointment of missing a better result with Gasly. “Wrapping up Qualifying with one car in Q3 for the second consecutive weekend is satisfying, but there was potential for more” Greenwood explained, citing issues with traffic and red-flag disruptions. A strategic gamble in Q3 aimed to optimise Gasly’s tyre preparation didn’t pay off, leaving him unable to improve his Q2 time.
Greenwood praised the collaborative effort required for Gasly’s progress through each session, acknowledging the team’s hard work in navigating the challenging qualifying conditions. Regarding Doohan, Greenwood recognised substantial progress from earlier sessions, noting his improved comfort and pace, which were much closer to Gasly’s during early Q1 laps.
Looking ahead, Alpine remains focused and optimistic. Both drivers and the team leadership stressed their ambition for points, believing strategic decisions and Jeddah’s overtaking-friendly layout will offer valuable opportunities. The team aims to leverage these strengths to advance their positions significantly during the race, continuing their competitive start to the season.
