Mathieu Warnier, Media365: published on Sunday November 3, 2024 at 10:30 p.m.
While the Alpine team was more accustomed to the bottom of the standings since the start of the season, the Brazilian Grand Prix will remain marked by opportunism which offers a double podium to Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly.
It's a result capable of saving a season. While Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly were never able to do better than ninth place at the wheel of a poorly constructed A524 that was seriously lacking in performance, the rain changed everything on the Interlagos side. Respectively 4th and 15th on the starting grid, the two French drivers were able to do well to achieve a double podium. They ended a 27-year wait to see two Tricolores on the podium of a Formula 1 Grand Prix, succeeding Olivier Panis and Jean Alesi, who had accompanied Jacques Villeneuve on the three steps in Spain during the 1997 season An absolutely unexpected result from Viry-Châtillon and Enstone which took shape in two stages. First of all, there was the choice to stay on the track while the Interlagos circuit was drenched by very intense rain. “We stayed outside when it was just a deluge and it was almost impossible to drive in the rain,” Pierre Gasly confided to the microphone of Canal+. We had to try to stay on track even though we were very, very slow but we did it. » Which allowed the Alpine drivers to stay at the front when most of their opponents chose to move towards the pits. A decision that paid off when the red flag went out after Franco Colapinto went off the track.
Ocon: “No regrets to have”
This offered the two Frenchmen a “free pit stop”, the interruption of the event allowing them to change tires in order to put on fresher ones to complete the 69 laps to be covered this Sunday. “When conditions are difficult, we see that we can fight. It levels out the performance of the cars a little, confided Esteban Ocon to Canal+ after the podium. We were leading this Grand Prix, I believed it for a little while. I managed to outrun Max Verstappen but he was unfortunately faster than us on this last stint. » If the three-time world champion proved to be diabolically efficient after seizing first position, widening a gap of almost 20 seconds with his closest pursuer, the two Alpine drivers were able to hold on to this podium. “We manage to keep George Russell behind until the end. There was Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris at the start,” said Pierre Gasly. His teammate assures him, “there are no regrets to have” after such a race. “To have such a result is incredible,” added Esteban Ocon. We had difficulties during the last races, things did not work as we wanted. We see that we are there when the conditions are complicated. It proves that we can do it. There were no doubts deep down but, when it takes so long to get back into interesting positions, you always have a little doubt deep down. »
Gasly: “I’m thinking of Enstone, Viry”
Pierre Gasly, for his part, concedes that getting on the podium together was “unexpected” given the 2024 season experienced by Alpine. A result which is the fruit of a desire to never lose hope. “We started thirteenth on the starting grid, we didn't have much luck in Q2 but, behind, we didn't give up, confided the winner of the Italian Grand Prix in 2020. We kept a cool head so as not to make any mistakes in these conditions to go back as far as possible. » While the Alpine team was shaken by the announcement of the abandonment of the engine department by 2026, the two drivers thought about it. “It’s deserved, especially for the team. I am thinking of Enstone, of Viry, confided Pierre Gasly. It's a complicated year for us but it will warm everyone's hearts. » Esteban Ocon, for his part, assures that the image of this podium “will remain engraved”. For Alpine, this result is synonymous with 33 points scored in this Brazilian Grand Prix alone, compared to sixteen over the entire first 20 rounds of the season. This allows the Franco-British team to make a real leap in the standings, going from ninth to sixth place. A position that will have to be defended during the final sequence of three races in three weekends, which will start on November 23 in the streets of Las Vegas.
