The emotion is palpable this Monday, the day after an incredible Brazilian Grand Prix marked by a double podium for Alpine-Renault. The euphoria of the feat does not subside. Beyond an unexpected result and an exceptional championship operation, the French team probably saved its season, and a few million Euros. An equally historic double podium, for the brand, for Normandy, but also for France, which had been waiting for this for a long time.
This Sunday will be remembered by lovers of French motorsport, and of Renault in particular. Of course, Alpine did not win the race. Fifteen laps in the lead, at the pace of Max Verstappen, the team has touched this dream, but the essential is there. In a nightmarish 2024 campaign marked by poor results and complicated, even shocking restructurings, Alpine is finally making its mark, and in style.
In a difficult race due to heavy rain and numerous neutralizations, the A arrow showed strategic audacity, the drivers showed very high level driving, and the A524 showed one of the best paces on the field. . Added to this is a hint of success associated with perfect execution, everything came together to hit hard. And this time, all the way to the checkered flag. Yes, Alpine benefited from a combination of circumstances but it was the same for everyone, and the team knew how to maximize its success where the opponents drowned.
This double podium, rich in points, is therefore deserved, and also rewards months of effort, palpable fatigue and low morale due to a complicated general context. Beyond providing a boost of motivation, this performance strengthens the links between the teams, and for Alpine, it is a huge financial windfall thanks to the jump made in the manufacturers' ranking. Several tens of millions of Euros going from ninth to sixth place in the championship.
“I’m very happy and I really don’t know if I’m in a dream or in reality!”exclaims Esteban Ocon. “I am so proud of the whole team. We scored an incredible number of points in just one weekend. Yesterday such a performance seemed impossible, but we saw that we can fight when the conditions are difficult. We We had a very good qualifying session in the morning, enough to be well placed for the future. When I was in the lead, I believed in it for a little while, but Max. [Verstappen] was faster than us in the final relay. “
“So we have no regrets about the result. It was the best we could get and it proves once again that we can do it. We just have to keep working hard for the last three races. am also extremely happy to get on the podium with Pierre On the last lap, I thought about how incredible it was to share a podium, like in the good old days of our karting debut in similar conditions. will remain forever engraved in my memory and I am delighted for all the team “he adds.
“What an incredible day for the whole team!”adds Pierre Gasly. “None of us could have imagined a double podium, but we did it and I couldn't be more proud of everyone. We had such a year… We had difficulties, we were in back of the pack and it was tough for everyone involved However, no one gave up and everyone remained focused and motivated And we now have two trophies, second and third place in São Paulo. It's just incredible. We knew that everything is possible on one. day like this with mixed conditions We had to be prepared for any eventuality and perfect the execution.
“I am also delighted for Esteban, who had a superb race today. We have our history, unique and magnificent. We grew up in the same region, where we did karting since our childhood. Not only are we all both arrived in Formula 1, but we became teammates and we now share this podium with the same team. It's simply incredible and I'm happy for both of us. These three weekends in a row have been intense, but we have. clearly made progress during this period We must continue like this and stay motivated for the last three races, because the battle is still extremely close in the championship.specifies Norman.
Let's remain realistic, maintaining this sixth place against Haas-Ferrari and RB-Honda RBPT will be a big challenge, but Pierre Gasly has continued to appear in the top 10 for three Grand Prix, thanks in particular to an A524 in clear progress – this was particularly the case in Mexico and in Sprint in Sao Paulo. We must therefore believe in it, while also hoping that Esteban Ocon can find rhythm again. If this was the case in the rain in Brazil, in the dry, our outgoing driver has been in difficulty in recent weeks.
“What a great way to end this triplet, with a double podium for the team, what's more after waking up very early after the delays caused by yesterday's showers!”s’exclame Oliver Oakes, Team Principal. “Both drivers were faultless in difficult conditions today. They made no missteps all day. In addition to the points scored on Saturday in the Sprint, it was an excellent weekend for the entire team in all conditions. It's a credit to everyone at Enstone and Viry-Châtillon. They have worked tirelessly over the last two months to give us more performance on the track. support us to complete the season in beauty.
This Brazilian Grand Prix will remain historic whatever happens. Forever in the History of Renault in Formula 1 at a time when the Losange will cease to supply engines at the end of next season. If we want other results of this type between now and then, we know that such a feat could be difficult, even if we can imagine a more efficient A525 next year. The timing is in any case well chosen, just a few weeks after the announcement of the sale of F1 activities at Viry-Châtillon.
This morning, we can't help but think of the teams based in this entity in the Parisian suburbs, where a mixture of joy and sadness must accompany a highly deserved glass of Champagne. A certainly bland taste for a podium which will not make us forget this difficult decision to do without the Renault engine in 2026. Finishing with your head held high, the incredible history of this block remains the ultimate motivation, and this Brazilian Grand Prix will remain the one of the markers of this exercise.
