Five cars, out of twenty, did not finish this 2024 Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix. A weekend marked by very heavy rain, which first disrupted qualifying, before creating favorable conditions for both of us. Norman pilots. The Ebroïcian Esteban Ocon and the Rouennais Pierre Gasly finished second and third respectively in this race. A very great performance for the Alpine team, penultimate in the constructors' standings before this weekend, and which had never been on the podium this season.
Ocon leading a few laps
From qualifying, which was exceptionally contested this Sunday morning, numerous road accidents suggested a special Grand Prix. If, for Gasly, only 15th on the grid, it did not end as planned, Esteban Ocon was able to climb to fourth place. A successful ranking during the race, where the Ebroïcian even ranked in first position for several laps. A “safety car” triggered at that moment, where Ocon was able to go to the pits to have his tires changed, even made him believe in a possible second F1 victory in his career. But the Alpine was overtaken immediately after the resumption of the race by the reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, final winner of the GP.
Two Alpines on the podium, a first
But the Franco-English team was able to manage this rainy race, to allow its European driver to finish second. Pierre Gasly, for his part, signed a major race, to move from 15th to 3rd place, taking advantage of the various poor performances of more efficient cars. The Rouennais was notably able to resist for very long laps the worrying presence of George Russell's Mercedes, less than a second behind him, in this Grand Prix, which put the drivers' nerves to the test.
With this performance, Alpine moves from ninth to sixth place in the manufacturers' standings. Individually, Gasly moves up to twelfth place in the drivers' ranking, Ocon is fourteenth.
“What a race guys!”
The Ebroïcian driver, hilarious in his single-seater, praised the race achieved by his team, with a word for his teammate, Pierre Gasly, whom he will leave next season to go to Haas. It has been 27 years since two French drivers had stood on a Grand Prix podium.
“The car was very difficult to drive on the dry trackconfided after the race Ocon. But it was easier with the rain, actually. I like these conditions. In the rain, cars are a little more worth it. I didn't imagine getting on a podium this season.”
His teammate, Pierre Gasly, praised a race “incredible for the whole team. We suffered this season, but we believed until the end. Two cars on the podium, no one could have imagined it.”
