Alpine F1 Team Principal Oliver Oakes was delighted with the Enstone-based outfit’s first double podium finish since the 2013 Korean Grand Prix after Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly came home second and third in Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
“What a way to end the triple-header with a double podium for the team. Even more so after the early alarm call this morning after the rain delay yesterday! Both drivers were faultless today in difficult conditions, not putting a wheel wrong all day. On top of the points in the Sprint race yesterday, it’s been a great weekend for the whole team in all conditions and a real credit to everyone across Enstone and Viry for their hard work these past two months to bring performance to the track. This gives us some momentum that we must use to finish the season strongly.”
Esteban Ocon started the race from fourth place on the grid on used Intermediate tires and changed tires under red flag conditions, and came home in second place, having led the race for a time. Speaking following the action, he commented saying:
I’m very happy this afternoon and I really do not know if I’m in a dream or if it’s a reality! I’m so proud of the entire team. We scored an amazing number of points in one race weekend. Clearly after yesterday such a performance seemed impossible but when the conditions are difficult, we have seen that we can fight. We had a very good qualifying session earlier this morning, which set us up well for the race. When I was at the front of the race, I believed in it for a little while but Max [Verstappen] was faster than us on the last stint so we can have no regrets in the end result because that was definitely the most we could achieve. It proves again that we can do it and we just have to keep working hard for the final three races. I’m also super happy to share this podium with Pierre. I thought about it on the last lap of the race that it was going to be incredible to share a podium together, like in the good old days when we started karting in similar conditions. This podium will remain in my memory forever and I’m just so pleased for the entire team.
Pierre Gasly had a fantastic race day. The Frenchman started the race from 13th place and came home in third place and speaking following the race he said:
What an incredible day for the entire team. None of us could have imagined a double podium but we did it and I could not be prouder of everyone. We have had such a year. We have struggled at times, been at the back, and it’s been tough for everyone involved. No one has given up, though, and everyone has stayed focused and motivated and now we have two trophies in second and third place in São Paulo, which is just amazing. We knew anything would be possible on a day like this with the mixed conditions. It was about being ready for anything and executing everything to the maximum. I’m very pleased for Esteban too, he did a great race today. We have our story. It’s a unique and beautiful story. Growing up together in the same area and karted since we were kids. Not only did we both get to Formula 1, but amazingly, became team-mates and now we share a podium together at the same team. Just unbelievable and I’m happy for the both of us. It’s been a busy triple-header where we’ve certainly made improvements. We have to keep going and stay hungry for the final three races as the Championship battle remains so close.
Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen won the chaotic race and extended his lead in the championship, coming from 17th to 1st. The Dutch driver ended the race just over 19 seconds ahead of Ocon.
The result means that if Verstappen finishes the Las Vegas Grand Prix next time out ahead of Lando Norris, he will win his fourth Drivers championship in a row.
George Russell was fourth just ahead of Charles Leclerc, while Lando Norris came home in sixth place just ahead of Oscar Piastri in a rain-affected Brazilian Grand Prix.
Yuki Tsunoda finished the race in eighth place ahead of his RB teammate Liam Lawson. Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top for Mercedes.
Sergio Perez was 11th, just ahead of Oliver Bearman, who had a dramatic race for the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team. Valtteri Bottas was 13th for Kick F1 Team while Fernando Alonso was 14th just just ahead of Zhou Guanyu.
Carlos Sainz, Franco Colapinto, Nico Hulkenberg, Alex Albon and Lance Stroll failed to finish the race. The double podium means that the Alpine F1 Team has moved up to sixth place in the Formula One Constructors championship with three race remaining.