The 2024 Method 1 season obtained off to a troublesome begin for Alpine.
However that exact same season is organising for an unbelievable end.
The group started the yr behind the grid, as Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly locked out the again row for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. Nevertheless marked enchancment has been the story of their closing half of the season, and that very same duo delivered a surprising double-podium consequence on the São Paulo Grand Prix. With Ocon ending second and Gasly third within the Grand Prix — and Gasly including two extra factors due to a seventh-place end within the F1 Dash Race in Brazil, the group vaulted into sixth within the F1 Constructors’ Championship, arising all the best way from ninth.
Now the group is primed for an additional strong consequence on the Las Vegas Grand Prix, due to a powerful qualifying session from each drivers. Ocon superior to Q2 and simply missed out on Q3, and is about to begin in P11.
“On my facet, I’m very pleased with the lap in Qualifying in the present day and, although it’s a pity that we missed out on Q3 by only a tenth of a second, we might be beginning in eleventh, which places us ready to try to battle for factors,” stated Ocon following qualifying within the group’s media report. “Will probably be fascinating to see how tire degradation will play into the outcomes of the race tomorrow. Hopefully it’s going to open up the door to some good alternatives for us to maneuver ahead. We struggled a bit with traction and grip within the periods in the present day, however we’re working arduous to enhance, and we’ll give it all the pieces tomorrow to maintain the tires alive and maximise any alternative that comes our means. We did it final yr from additional again on the grid so now we have confidence we are able to come away with a very good group consequence.”
Nevertheless, the main story was Gasly’s efficiency. He stormed into Q3 and when mud lastly settled late Friday evening in Las Vegas Gasly was within the second row and can begin third, proper behind pole sitter George Russell.
“I’m very comfortable to qualify within the high three in the present day,” stated Gasly. “The lap felt unbelievable and it was a kind of if you cross the road and you understand that all the pieces was thrown at it. I by no means imagined that we’d be within the high three, although, that was a shock. This monitor is all about positive margins and it’s tough with the low downforce with a variety of sliding however I simply had a variety of enjoyable on the market too. We had one set of latest Softs for Q3 so it was type of a final lap shot, loads of adrenaline, and I’m simply happy we put it collectively.
“Tomorrow, we’ll give it all the pieces however we all know the place our battle is. It’s a troublesome race for tire degradation and graining. We have now to remain on high of it as final yr at this race it value us. We’ve labored arduous as a group to grasp it and there’s extra arduous work tonight to arrange ourselves. We’ll go for it tomorrow with the goal of taking some factors.”
Workforce Principal Oliver Oakes, who joined the group through the summer season break, paid tribute to each drivers and hailed Gasly’s “excellent” efficiency.
“From the get-go this weekend now we have seemed aggressive, particularly in these cooler situations,” started Oakes. However the area is so aggressive, and the gaps are so tight, you by no means know the place you’re going to stack up till you get into Qualifying. Pierre did an ideal job to place the automobile on the second row and it places us in a powerful place for tomorrow’s race. It’s encouraging to once more attain Q3 for a fourth time in a row, however we all know something can occur within the race and the factors are handed out tomorrow. “With Esteban simply lacking out on the ultimate a part of Qualifying in eleventh place, our aim is to get each automobiles within the factors tomorrow. Just like final yr, we anticipate the situations might be tough with the decrease temperatures and tyre administration, so we have to analyse how we are able to get probably the most out of our technique.”
The São Paulo Grand Prix propelled Alpine into P6 within the Constructors’ Championship.
One other “excellent” evening in Las Vegas might see them take an enormous step towards staying there.