F1 rival's heroic act helps Pierre Gasly in scary moment: 'What the hell'
The F1 world watched on in disbelief as driver Pierre Gasly's AlphaTauri car caught on fire during a routine pit stop as rival team Aston Martin jumped in to help extinguish the flame.
Drivers got underway for their practice laps ahead of the Singapore GP this weekend when Gasly pulled into the pit lane for a routine check.
INCREDIBLE: Lewis Hamilton's staggering reveal amid shock 15-year truth
OUCH: Daniel Ricciardo in huge drama as boos ring out at Italian GP
The Frenchman's car was being guided into the garage when all of a sudden his roll hoop burst into flames.
Gasly quickly jumped out of the AlphaTauir as his team rushed to help him.
However, it was the quick thinking of an Aston Martin mechanic to grab a fire extinguisher that helped put out the flames.
Gasly escaped uninjured and was even able to make a sly quip at the bizarre situation.
"It’s all part of the practice! Checking how strong the engine is in these hot conditions," the driver said.
A fiery moment for Pierre Gasly in the pit lane during FP2
The Frenchman escaped the cockpit and injury after his AlphaTauri car suddenly caught fire before the flames were extinguished #SingaporeGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/Iqzg4TPO1S— Formula 1 (@F1) September 30, 2022
🔥
Nice work by Chris Dodd, Aston Martin's Race Team Co-Ordinator, to put out the flames engulfing the airbox of @PierreGasly's Alpha Tauri 👏#F1 #SingaporeGP #Autosport pic.twitter.com/MlQfxMHajZ— Autosport (@autosport) September 30, 2022
"It wasn’t ideal, it got slightly hot, and when we connected the fuel breather it caught fire, but we could switch it off and restart again. So, just a bit of a barbecue feeling, but it was nothing too bad in the end.
"It’s just a procedure, and in these conditions it’s so warm – it’s nothing worrying or concerning for the rest of the weekend."
Gasly even returned to finish his practice session.
F1 world reacts to bizarre Pierre Gasly fire
While the Frenchman remained cool under pressure, the F1 world was in shock.
Many also praised the quick thinking of the rival mechanic to help out in the scary situation.
Crazy scenes today as Pierre Gasly car catches fire as it returns to the garage
Fair play to the Aston Martin guy who was quick to extinguish the fire in the car of Gasly 💚 #F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/kvqCGksY25— AnythingF1 (@AnythingF1_) September 30, 2022
That was a bit scary - the bodywork around the roll hoop suddenly catching fire (obviously triggered by something under the cover). Gasly jumped out quickly as his team rapidly put it out #F1 #SingaporeGP
— Chris Medland (@ChrisMedlandF1) September 30, 2022
Replays show Gasly's car catch fire as he comes into the garage. Team quick on hand with fire extinguishers and Pierre is out the car 😳 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/jAbOFdj1ip
— WTF1 (@wtf1official) September 30, 2022
Aston Martin guys extinguished the fire in the car of Gasly. This is a team with heart and spirit pic.twitter.com/GKhHVSlMXJ
— Fernando Alonso updates (@startonpole) September 30, 2022
What the hell has gone on there? Fire at the back of Gasly's car! #SinagporeGP
— Lloydy (@Ll0ydy_) September 30, 2022
WOW! That is a rather strange fire for Gasly. Hopefully, nothing that will completely sideline him for the remainder of the session
— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) September 30, 2022
Pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz told Sky Sports the team had worked out the issue, which sparked the fire.
“Everything’s been sorted out. There’s been a bit of tape that’s been out over the fire damaged engine cover," he said.
“The team are telling me the fire started when the fuel breather was connected to the car but it was put out quickly and then he’s going back out on the circuit.”
Elsewhere in Singapore, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc led the way in Practice 2.
Sainz finished 0.2 second faster than his teammate in a promising signs for Ferrari in the hot and humid conditions.
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
