Pierre Gasly crash halts Alpine FP2 as team investigates cause

Pierre Gasly’s Alpine session came to a sudden halt on Friday when a crash forced the team to red-flag FP2 at the Austrian Grand Prix.

What happened in Gasly’s FP2 crash?

Gasly spun his Alpine A523 on the exit of Turn 9 during Free Practice 2 at the Red Bull Ring. The impact sent him into the barriers hard enough to halt the session immediately. Race control threw the red flag while marshals checked the barriers and the car for damage.

Why did Alpine halt the session after Gasly’s crash?

Alpine pulled the plug after Gasly’s Alpine A523 struck the left-hand wall at high speed. The team needed time to assess the car’s condition and the track’s safety before restarting. Marshals also swept debris from the barriers to clear the line for any resumed running.

What’s next for Pierre Gasly and Alpine?

The team now faces a tight window to repair the car if damage is found. Gasly must also regain confidence after the shunt before qualifying on Saturday. Alpine’s engineers will pore over telemetry to rule out mechanical failure as the root cause of the spin.

Gasly’s crash came just minutes after the session opened, wiping out a planned early run. The Austrian GP weekend now hinges on whether Alpine can bounce back in time for qualifying.