Pierre Gasly to start from the pits in Hungary
Pierre Gasly was to have started from the back row of the grid after a poor qualifying strategy on the part of Alpine. But the team changed several engine parts on the Frenchman's car.
Pierre Gasly’s nightmarish weekend continues. Despite showing good pace in the free practice sessions, Alpine could have aimed for a good position in Q2 or even Q3. But the weather conditions got the better of the French team’s strategy.
The two tricolor cars did not come out of the pits at the very end of Q1, even though the track offered much more grip. In the end, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon lost their qualification in Q2 and found themselves at the back of the grid. This created frustration within the French camp.
If Esteban Ocon will start from 19th place this Sunday in Hungary, Pierre Gasly, on the other hand, will start from the pit lane. Alpine has decided to install a third battery pack on the car featuring the number 10. The Normand will also benefit from a fourth electronic control unit.
These engine part changes do not comply with the regulations. Indeed, Alpine has exceeded the quota of authorized parts each season. In addition, these modifications were carried out under Parc Fermé conditions. Therefore, Pierre Gasly will start from the pit lane.
The situation will not be simple for the French driver. Overtaking at the Hungaroring is not easy. A perfect strategy will be needed to climb up in the rankings and hope to reach the points zone.
