AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly is looking to change his trend of poor French GP results at his home race this weekend, following a ‘super’ podium finish in Azerbaijan.
Gasly enjoyed a strong weekend in Baku, Azerbaijan, last time out as he topped FP3 before taking third-place on the podium, following a dramatic climax to the race.
Reflecting on that result over a week later, Gasly admitted that his podium was ‘well deserved’ following his strongest weekend of the season so far, despite reducing his power usage mid-race as he enjoyed two consecutive races ‘with no mistakes.’
The 25 year-old though is getting set for his home race this weekend at Circuit Paul Ricard where he hasn’t enjoyed any real success in F1, having retired in 2018 after colliding with compatriot, Esteban Ocon before finishing tenth in 2019.
Now coming into this race off the back of a podium finish, Gasly feels that the French GP has ‘come at just the right time’ in terms of momentum, despite feeling that there is plenty of ‘enthusiasm and strong expectations’ about the coming races.
Gasly however noted that his record in Baku until last time out also wasn’t exactly impressive with no points before this season’s visit, so is “… hoping we can follow the trend and change that this weekend also.”
French GP organisers are set to allow 15,000 spectators to attend per day which Gasly has welcomed, feeling that it is important to share his home race with his home fans and particularly as a now Grand Prix winner after taking victory at Monza last season.
Speaking on his emotions heading into this weekend, Gasly said: ” It’s going to make it very special so I’m feeling a bit impatient to experience that.”
Tsunoda Returns to Familiar Territory
After experiencing new circuits in three of his last four races, Yuki Tsunoda will now return to familiar territory after having scored points in three of four races across two visits in 2019 with EuroFormula and Formula Three respectively.
Looking ahead to the weekend, Tsunoda feels that his previous solid record around Circuit Paul Ricard is a ‘positive factor’ in his happiness entering this weekend off the back of a seventh-placed finish in Baku.
Tsunoda meanwhile has recently moved to Italy in order to work closer with AlphaTauri at their factory, in which he has studied various approaches to race weekends as well as previous car related issues with his hard work paying dividends in Baku last time out with ‘a new baseline’ in race preparation plans.
The 21 year-old though is expecting his previous experience around this circuit to count for little with Sector Three looking likely to be ‘key’ in terms of managing tyre degradation with hot temperatures forecast.