After a positive qualifying result, most drivers look to improve and gain positions during the race. However, after going fourth fastest and securing his best qualifying result for Alpine, Pierre Gasly will now look to do damage control in the Spanish GP race. Gasly showcased incredible pace during the weekend so far and going fourth fastest in qualifying proved that. However, the hapless Frenchman will look to fight to gain as many positions as he can start from the midfield. The fans brutally mocked this scenario which Gasly was put into with no fault of his own.
As revealed on Twitter, Gasly received two three-place grid penalties for impeding Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen during qualifying. Both incidents occurred in Q1, first against Carlos Sainz and second on Verstappen soon after. The stewards deemed the impeding dangerous, which earned Gasly the penalties and obvious criticism from the drivers.
However, the Frenchman was left in the dark on both occasions by his team. In the first scenario, Gasly blocked Sainz soon after letting his teammate by because of miscommunication.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Even during Verstappen’s impeding, the Frenchman was not aware of any fast incoming cars behind him, at least not in time. This is just one of many occasions where Gasly has earned avoidable penalties. In fact, he was almost at the limit of the penalty points towards the end of the previous season.
The Frenchman is clearly carrying some bad omen around him and the omen has hit hard in Spain so far. Apart from the bad omen, the fans are also taking a dig at Gasly.
Fans brutally mock victim Pierre Gasly for avoidable mistakes
Soon after the news of Gasly’s 6-place grid penalty demoting him to P10 hit social media, the fans were quick to respond. However, sadly for Gasly, none were in his support. In fact, the fans are laughing at the expense of Gasly’s luck and believe it is a well-deserved penalty.
The man collects grid penalties and points like JLo collects engagement rings.
— DrummingMonkey 🍕 (@drumming_monkey) June 3, 2023
Gas man why
— Aaron Nowak (@SlabStoxAaron) June 3, 2023
Pfff that’s tough! 😰 he can thank his team for that
— Linda H. (@HoogendonkLinda) June 3, 2023
WATCH THIS STORY: How F1 Escaped a Huge Safety Disaster at the 2023 Azerbaijan GP in Baku
Pierre gasLLLLLLLLLy https://t.co/vaxTj3yO0D
— DM (@dmlh44) June 3, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Outstanding qualifying ruined by not one but two impeding penalties…how does that happen?
Alonso pointing it out when going by was hilarious though.
— TSmith (@IrishTsmith) June 3, 2023
Deserved tbh
— HumbleLeaf28956 (@humplerlea67458) June 3, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The Frenchman will definitely have his head in his hands after the FIA’s decision. However, if he can still salvage his race from P10, it might be a blessing in disguise for his morale for the rest of the season.