Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

Carlos Sainz contends Alpine had front-row pace in Bahrain with a Mercedes F1 engine

by Taylor Powling
5 months ago
A A
Alpine's pace in Bahrain caught Carlos Sainz's attention

Alpine's pace in Bahrain caught Carlos Sainz's attention

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Carlos Sainz has indicated that an Alpine could have appeared on the front row at Formula 1‘s Bahrain Grand Prix with a Mercedes engine powering the team in 2025.

Alpine’s disappointing opening to the campaign was dispelled last weekend as Pierre Gasly crossed the line in seventh place to put an end to the side’s point-less run.

The Frenchman capitalised on a strong starting position as he out-qualified both McLaren’s Lando Norris and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to line up on the second row.

Gasly’s lap caught Sainz’s attention as the Williams driver, who was over four-tenths back in eighth, revealed that his rival was matching the McLaren in some corners.

RelatedPosts

Oscar Piastri will not need to serve an F1 grid penalty despite jumping the start at the Azerbaijan GP

Oscar Piastri handed F1 grid reprieve despite Azerbaijan GP penalty

7 hours ago
Lewis Hamilton failed to comply with a Ferrari team order in Baku

Lewis Hamilton sorry after Ferrari F1 Azerbaijan GP team order gaffe

7 hours ago

Indeed, the Spaniard has contended that Gasly had the potential to end up alongside polesitter Oscar Piastri without Alpine’s drastic straight-line speed disadvantage.

Alpine has been laboured with that burden since an engine freeze was imposed, but that will be eradicated with an impending move to Mercedes power units in 2026.

“I just think [the order] is very track dependent and when you have the whole field in eight-tenths, [things change quickly],” Sainz said via Sky Sports F1.

“It’s clear that we’re going to go to tracks where the Alpine is gonna fly, tracks where the Williams [will fly]. Hopefully, we go to tracks where we are faster.

“What is clear for me is that the Alpine in the corners is impressive.

“I don’t know if you guys have access to GPS data, but they managed to go as quickly as McLaren from Turn 6 to 11, so all this medium-high speed [corners].

“So it’s very, very impressive what they’re able to do.

“This quali lap from Pierre [was impressive]. They complain they have three-tenths [deficit] of engines.

“So if you put them on a Merc engine or a Ferrari engine, you have a car that is in the front row.”

Carlos Sainz rued contact ending his race in Bahrain last weekend
Carlos Sainz rued contact ending his race in Bahrain last weekend

Sainz concerned about Alpine pace

Sainz was unable to convert his top-10 berth into a points return to preserve Williams’ scoring streak as contact with Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull sent him into retirement.

However, with team-mate Alex Albon lagging home in 12th place, Sainz has conceded that the Grove-based squad had no answer to the speed that Alpine possessed.

“Good quali, good start, already a couple of good starts in a row with this car, good attacking first lap, decent pace,” Sainz told media including Motorsport Week.

“But the Alpine was too quick for us this weekend.

“And when you have the top eight cars plus the two Alpines, that’s top 10 positions, and I was there between P11 and P10 fighting for my life.

“But yeah, we were just not quite quick enough.

“But again, first two stints a lot to learn from again, good start, good quali, so we’re in the right trajectory.

“The weekends will come a bit more together hopefully, and, at the same time, we have this little bit to improve on the car to see if we can catch Gasly and [Jack] Doohan with the Alpines.

“This weekend they seem to be on the other league than more than in our league.”

READ MORE – Pierre Gasly hails Alpine 12-month progress to battle Max Verstappen in Bahrain

Tags: AlpineF1Williams
Share254Tweet159Share

Related Posts

Oscar Piastri will not need to serve an F1 grid penalty despite jumping the start at the Azerbaijan GP
Formula 1

Oscar Piastri handed F1 grid reprieve despite Azerbaijan GP penalty

7 hours ago
Lewis Hamilton failed to comply with a Ferrari team order in Baku
Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton sorry after Ferrari F1 Azerbaijan GP team order gaffe

7 hours ago
Carlos Sainz left his Williams team elated after his third place in the Azerbaijan GP
Formula 1

Carlos Sainz makes bold declaration after ending Williams F1 podium drought

8 hours ago
Load More

Discussion about this post

Upcoming Races

#EventDate
17Azerbaijan GP19-21 September
18Singapore GP03-05 October
19United States GP17-19 October
20Mexico City GP24-26 October
21São Paulo GP07-09 November

Click here for the full 2025 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Oscar Piastri324
Lando Norris293
Max Verstappen230
George Russell194
Charles Leclerc163
Lewis Hamilton117
Alexander Albon70
Andrea Kimi Antonelli66
Isack Hadjar38
Nico Hulkenberg37

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

Oscar Piastri will not need to serve an F1 grid penalty despite jumping the start at the Azerbaijan GP
Formula 1

Oscar Piastri handed F1 grid reprieve despite Azerbaijan GP penalty

September 21, 2025
Lewis Hamilton failed to comply with a Ferrari team order in Baku
Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton sorry after Ferrari F1 Azerbaijan GP team order gaffe

September 21, 2025
Carlos Sainz left his Williams team elated after his third place in the Azerbaijan GP
Formula 1

Carlos Sainz makes bold declaration after ending Williams F1 podium drought

September 21, 2025

Follow Motorsport Week

Join our daily motorsport newsletter

* indicates required

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd