Pierre Gasly’s impressive qualifying form continued at Zandvoort in 2021 after the Frenchman clinched P4 on the grid for the Dutch Grand Prix. But since Sergio Perez only finished 16th in qualifying in the second Red Bull, Gasly had to wonder why he wasn’t being considered for a seat on the senior Red Bull team alongside Verstappen in 2022.
Gasly kept pace throughout his time at Zandvoort, finishing in the top 10 in every practice session and section of qualifying before finishing fourth in Q3, less than six tenths behind Polesitter Max Verstappen’s and Red Bull in front of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, who led the 2nd free practice session on Friday.
READ MORE: Verstappen wows home fans after ousting Hamilton to take the thrilling Dutch GP pole
“To be honest, it was a really good afternoon for us,” said Gasly, who after his eleventh Q3 appearance of the year equalized his best qualifying of the year from Baku. “Yesterday … we didn’t look good and we didn’t look ideal this morning either.
“But for whatever reason, the car felt great in qualifying; I managed to find a little more time for qualifying and unbelievable – it’s really good for us to qualify before the two Ferraris. “
Gasly achieved his best qualifying of the season at Zandvoort
The result was the second race weekend in a row that Gasly overtook Sergio Perez in the works Red Bull in the AlphaTauri.
But with Red Bull confirmed ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix that Perez would stay with the team for 2022, Gasly was asked why he hadn’t gotten another chance at the team he drove 12 races for in 2019 and became Toro Rosso / AlphaTauri downgraded.
READ MORE: Verstappen says technical problems prevented the pole lap at the “incredible” Zandvoort from going any faster
“I wonder why,” replied Gasly. “But yes, I think there were discussions [Red Bull] I am very satisfied with my performance, but … you have made your decision. Of course that was a bit of a disappointment for me, because that’s where I want to be, I want to have a fast car.
Pierre Gasly “super satisfied” with a sensational P4 in the Dutch GP qualifying
“AlphaTauri, you know, give me a really strong car, but it was up to [Red Bull] and unfortunately it didn’t happen, “added Gasly. “That doesn’t mean it won’t happen in the future, but I definitely won’t be going there next year.”
READ MORE: Hamilton and Wolff plan to put Verstappen under “massive pressure” with a split strategy at the Dutch GP
Gasly’s team-mate Yuki Tsunoda will start the Dutch Grand Prix in P15, while the Japanese driver told the press: “I felt safe in the car and it was good to make it into Q2. It’s a shame that I didn’t have a chance to do a lap on my new tire because of the red flag, but that’s how it is.
“The pace is definitely there, I think it would have been possible to make it to Q3, so there are mixed feelings for this afternoon, but overall I’m happy with how the day went from my side.”
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