Pierre Gasly Reflects on Strong Sprint Qualifying Performance at Chinese Grand Prix Pierre Gasly, the Alpine driver, expressed confidence in his team’s progress after a strong showing in the Sprint Qualifying session at the Chinese Grand Prix. The Frenchman advanced to the final stage of the qualifying event, securing a seventh-place starting position for Saturday’s Sprint race. His performance left him ahead of Max Verstappen, and he was cleared of any obstruction during the session. Gasly emphasized his satisfaction with the result, particularly after a challenging start to the season. “I must say I’m extremely pleased with that, especially after last week,” Gasly said, referencing his 10th-place finish in Australia, which earned him the final point available at the opening race. “We found a lot more performance, and good learning from Melbourne. I tried to put everything together today, and then I felt a lot better in the car straight from the first lap. I think it’s good to feel in the mix and be in the top 10 again.” Gasly acknowledged the challenges posed by graining issues during practice, which affected all teams, but remained optimistic about the Sprint race. “There’s definitely more potential than we’ve seen in Melbourne, so I’m confident [about points],” he added. Alpine teammate Franco Colapinto also participated in the Sprint Qualifying, reaching the second stage but starting from 16th position due to performance struggles. Colapinto admitted the track conditions made it difficult to adapt, noting that while the car performed well in practice, it lacked pace in the qualifying format. “I think the car was not in a bad place in FP1, but it just wouldn’t do a step into Sprint Qualifying that I wanted,” he said. “We lacked a bit of pace.#max_verstappen #alpine #chinese_grand_prix #franco_colapinto #pierre_gasly
Lewis Hamilton dismisses concerns about the risks of slow starts in Formula 1, calling the situation “more exciting” than dangerous. The seven-time world champion addressed criticisms from fellow drivers and officials who have raised alarms over the potential for accidents during the initial moments of races. Hamilton acknowledged that some drivers have experienced slow getaways, citing incidents like Franco Colapinto’s near-miss during the Australian Grand Prix. In that race, Liam Lawson’s car moved slowly at the start, prompting a dramatic moment that left other drivers concerned. Sergio Perez, a teammate of Hamilton at Mercedes, warned that the risk of a major crash remains high due to the speed differential between cars. “It’s just a matter of time until a massive shunt happens,” Perez said, describing the scenario as “very, very dangerous.” Hamilton, however, disagreed with the assessment. “I think it’s more exciting,” he said. “When we all get off [the line] exactly the same, it’s boring. I don’t think it’s dangerous.” He argued that the current system, where drivers start at the same time, lacks the unpredictability that makes races thrilling. The debate over starts has also drawn attention to the technical differences between teams. Ferrari’s power unit, which both Hamilton and Perez use, is believed to perform exceptionally well at the start due to its smaller turbocharger. This has allowed Ferrari drivers like Charles Leclerc to gain an edge in races, such as the Australian Grand Prix, where Leclerc started fourth and overtook pole sitter George Russell in the first corner. Russell, however, noted that his team had “found workarounds” to their start issues in Melbourne and warned that lower grip levels at other tracks could make starts even more challenging.#charles_leclerc #lewis_hamilton #liam_lawson #franco_colapinto #sergio_perez
F1 Drivers Express Concern Over Race Start Safety Amid Technical and Political Debates The chaotic start of the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, marked by a near-collision between Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, has sparked widespread concern among Formula 1 drivers about the risks of race starts under the new technical regulations. The incident, replayed during the podium ceremony, left top drivers like George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, and Charles Leclerc visibly shaken, highlighting the extreme precision required to avoid crashes in the new era of F1. Lawson, who narrowly avoided a collision, described the moment as a “lottery” for drivers, emphasizing the heightened complexity of starting procedures. “I had already braced in the car because I saw his car on my left and knew he was going to hit me,” he said, underscoring the split-second decisions needed. The incident has intensified fears that the new engine rules, which prioritize energy recovery and hybrid systems, have made race starts more dangerous and unpredictable. The technical overhaul for 2026 has introduced a multi-step process for drivers to execute a clean start. They must rev their engines to activate turbochargers, wait for electrical power to kick in at 31mph, and then manage gear shifts while navigating sudden speed changes. This added complexity has led to inconsistent performance, with some teams, notably Ferrari, gaining an edge due to their smaller turbos spooling up faster. Despite the FIA’s efforts to address disparities, including an extended pre-light sequence during preseason testing, challenges persist. Drivers have reported difficulties in maintaining consistent battery charge levels during formation laps, a critical factor in the second phase of the start.#liam_lawson #racing_bulls #alpine #franco_colapinto #fia
Jack Doohan disclosed he faced severe threats and sought police assistance amid a tense encounter with armed individuals around the time of last year’s Miami Grand Prix, shortly before his departure from Alpine. The Australian driver revealed these details in a recent episode of the Netflix documentary Drive to Survive, which was released on Friday. Doohan described the atmosphere surrounding his final race for Alpine as “pretty heavy stuff,” highlighting the intense pressure he endured. Doohan made his debut for Alpine in the last race of 2024 and was replaced by Franco Colapinto after the Miami Grand Prix, the sixth race of 2025. He is now serving as a reserve driver for Haas. In the documentary, Doohan stated he received “serious death threats” via email, with messages warning that he would be “all my limbs will be cut off” if he remained in the car by the time of the Miami race. He also recounted an incident where he spotted three armed men, prompting him to call his police escort to de-escalate the situation. Doohan did not elaborate on how the incident was resolved or identify those responsible. Earlier, after Colapinto took over his seat at Alpine in May, Doohan shared on social media that he and his family had been subjected to online abuse, suggesting that fans from Colapinto’s home country, Argentina, were behind the harassment. The duo were the only two drivers in Formula One last season who failed to score a single point, while Alpine finished last in the constructors’ standings. The circumstances surrounding Doohan’s exit from the team and the threats he faced have sparked discussions about the pressures and challenges faced by drivers in the sport.#alpine #miami_grand_prix #franco_colapinto #jack_doohan #drive_to_survive
F1 Driver Jack Doohan Details Death Threats and Armed Encounter Before Alpine Exit Formula 1 driver Jack Doohan disclosed he faced life-threatening threats and confronted armed individuals during an incident linked to the 2024 Miami Grand Prix, which preceded his departure from Alpine. The events unfolded shortly before the Australian driver lost his Formula 1 seat with the team. Doohan shared his harrowing experience in the latest episode of the Netflix documentary Drive To Survive, released on Friday, describing the tense environment surrounding his final race as “pretty heavy stuff.” In the documentary, Doohan described the nature of the threats he received. “I got serious death threats for this Grand Prix, saying they’re going to kill me here if I’m not out of the car,” he said. He added that he received multiple emails warning that if he remained in the car during the Miami race, “all my limbs will be cut off.” Beyond the digital threats, Doohan recounted a physical encounter with three armed men, prompting him to contact his security team. “I had to call my police escort to come get it under control,” he explained, though he did not elaborate on how the situation was resolved or identify those involved. The incidents coincided with a turning point in Doohan’s career. He made his Formula 1 debut for Alpine in the final race of the 2024 season but was subsequently dropped and replaced by Franco Colapinto after the Miami event, which marked the sixth race of the 2025 calendar. Doohan now holds a reserve driver role for Haas. Following Colapinto’s appointment in May, Doohan publicly addressed the online abuse he and his family endured, suggesting at the time that fans from Colapinto’s home country, Argentina, were responsible.#alpine #miami_grand_prix #franco_colapinto #jack_doohan #drive_to_survive
F1 Driver Jack Doohan Claims Armed Men Confronted Him in Miami After Death Threats Australia’s Jack Doohan revealed in a recent episode of the Netflix documentary Drive To Survive that he faced death threats and a dangerous encounter with armed men shortly before his departure from Alpine, the Formula One team. The incident occurred around the time of last year’s Miami Grand Prix, which marked the sixth race of the 2025 season and the final race of Doohan’s tenure with Alpine. Doohan, who made his debut for Alpine in the last race of 2024, was replaced by Franco Colapinto in May 2025. In the documentary, he described receiving severe threats via email, with messages warning that he would be “killed” if he remained in the car for the Miami race. He recounted receiving multiple emails stating that if he was still competing in the event, “all my limbs will be cut off.” The driver also detailed an incident where he encountered three armed men, prompting him to call his police escort to de-escalate the situation. He did not specify how the confrontation was resolved or identify those involved. The details of the incident remain unclear, though Doohan emphasized the tense atmosphere surrounding his final race. Following his replacement by Colapinto, Doohan shared on social media that he and his family had been subjected to online abuse, which he attributed to fans from Colapinto’s home country, Argentina. The two drivers were the only ones in F1 last season who failed to score a single point, as Alpine finished last in the constructors’ standings. Doohan is now serving as a reserve driver for Haas, a role that has limited his involvement in the sport.#alpine #miami_grand_prix #franco_colapinto #haas #jack_doohan
