BWT Alpine Formula One Team heads to the Yas Marina Circuit for the final round of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

 

 

In the team’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview:

 

 

- Pierre Gasly previews the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
- Jack Doohan gears up for his Formula One debut.
- Alpine Academy’s Victor Martins and Kush Maini return for Round 14 of the FIA Formula 2 Championship, and newly crowned champion Abbi Pulling returns for Round 7 of F1 Academy.
 

 

Pierre Gasly:

 

 

Drive to P5

 


It’s great to leave Qatar after an excellent race where we finished in fifth place and scored ten crucial points for the team. We had good pace all weekend and were able to show this, making it into SQ3 and fighting in the top ten consistently in both the Sprint Race and the Grand Prix. We had a tough start to the race but were able to stay with Kevin [Magnussen] before he pitted. We then stopped under the Safety Car which put us in a great position for the final stint. It was then a fight until the chequered flag, trying to keep Carlos [Sainz] behind. It was a very enjoyable battle, and we kept the position - one of our best results of the year - which puts us back ahead of Haas with one round to go. The goal is to score again in Abu Dhabi this weekend and solidify our championship position.

 

 

One more time!

 

 

Firstly, I would like to thank and wish Esteban the best for his future. It’s been a special story for us to be team-mates together at Alpine. We’ve had some incredible moments like São Paulo, of course, and also some low ones, but that is how racing goes sometimes. Now I have Jack next to me in the garage and I look forward to beginning the next chapter with him. Now we head to Abu Dhabi for the final race of the year and it’s all to play for. The target is to consolidate sixth in the Constructors’ Championship. The entire season has been long and challenging for the whole team but everyone back in Enstone and Viry have worked incredibly hard to turn around the car from where we were in Bahrain to where we are now, consistently fighting in the top-ten. The Yas Marina Circuit is a track we all know very well so hopefully we can get straight to it and build up our weekend progressively. The first and second sectors are very high-speed with fast corners and two long straights before the street track-style final sector with quick changes of direction and some close walls. I’m aiming to end the season on a high this weekend, the entire team deserves it.

 

 

Pierre Stats – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Starts in Abu Dhabi: 7
Points in Abu Dhabi: 14
Average Points: 2
Best Grid Position: 9th (2020)
Best Finish: 5th (2021)
Best Qualifying Lap Time: 1min 36.242secs (2020)
Fastest Lap: 1min 42.414secs (2019)

 

 

Did you know?

 

 

Fifth place in Lusail and third place at São Paulo are Pierre’s best results of the season, and both have come in the last three race weekends, and he now sits one point away from breaking into the Drivers’ Championship top ten for the first time all year.

 


Jack Doohan:

 

 

Abu Dhabi Debut

 

 

It is great to be making my Formula One debut with the team in Abu Dhabi this weekend. This track holds a lot of special memories for me. I have raced at the Yas Marina Circuit at various points throughout my career and it is also where I won my final Formula 2 race in 2023, so I am excited to get back on track there but this time in Formula One. This weekend, as well as the post-season test, present an opportunity for myself and the team to have additional track time together as we gear up for the 2025 season and the aim for myself will be to support the team's ambition to finish in sixth in the Constructors’ Championship. I am looking forward to working together with them to achieve this goal and to close out the season on a positive note.

 

 

Did you know?

 

 

Jack Doohan will become the 784th driver to take the start of a world championship event when he makes his debut at Yas Marina on Sunday. He is only the 16th Australian driver to start a Formula One Grand Prix.

 


Alpine Academy:

 

 

Alpine Academy’s Victor Martins and Kush Maini will line up for the final round of FIA Formula 2, and Abbi Pulling will return for the final round of F1 Academy, having secured the series win after Race 1 last weekend in Qatar.

 

 

Session Timings:

 

Friday 6 December
09:50-10:30 – F1 Academy Free Practice
11:05-11:50 – FIA Formula 2 Free Practice
15:00-15:30 – FIA Formula 2 Qualifying
18:35-19:05 – F1 Academy Qualifying

 

Saturday 7 December
12:15-12:45 – F1 Academy Race 1
16:15-17:05 – FIA Formula 2 Sprint Race
20:15-20:45 – F1 Academy Race 2

 

Sunday 8 December
11:15-11:45 – F1 Academy Race 3
13:25-14:30 – FIA Formula 2 Feature Race