Disasters keep coming for Alpine in Formula 1. After an extremely disappointing start to the season on the track in Bahrain, and off-track with internal calls for departures, here are the mechanical problems in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).
18th on the starting line, Pierre Gasly couldn't even finish the first lap, called back to the pits by his team to retire.
The French driver had complained of a gearbox problem even before the start of the formation lap, when he was positioned at the end of the grid with his mechanics.
Disaster for Pierre Gasly from the start of the #SaudiArabianGP đžđŠ
A gearbox problem forces the Frenchman to retire đ©#F1 pic.twitter.com/RVgnr9dJOH
â CANAL+ F1Âź (@CanalplusF1) March 9, 2024
One more hassle for the French team... After a zero point in Bahrain (17th and 18th), the two Alpines qualified in the same positions for the Jeddah GP, a track which has often succeeded for the blue single-seater -white-red since its introduction to the calendar in 2021, proof of the lack of performance of the A524 this year.
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Up front, Max Verstappen was able to hold his pole position ahead of Charles Leclerc who had to fight to keep his second place ahead of Sergio Perez.
6 laps later, Lance Stroll, after violently hitting a wall, triggered the safety car.