The 2024 Method 1 season couldn’t have began worse for Alpine.
The crew’s 2024 challenger — the A524 — got here in chubby and the crew lagged in the back of the pack throughout pre-season testing. Fears have been confirmed within the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, when Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon locked out the again row throughout qualifying, beginning the race in the back of the sphere.
The duo completed the primary race of the season down in P17 and P18 and confronted an extended climb to get into the midfield.
However slowly, outcomes improved, after which got here the São Paulo Grand Prix. Ocon and Gasly survived troublesome climate circumstances and an opportunity of schedule, delivering a surprising double-podium end result for the crew. With Ocon ending second and Gasly third in the principle occasion — and Gasly including a P7 within the F1 Dash Race — Alpine banked a staggering 35 factors over the weekend in Brazil.
Vaulting them into sixth within the Constructors’ Championship standings, all the best way up from ninth.
Now the crew hopes to hold on within the standings because the grid heads to the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the primary of three straight races to shut the season.
“We’re heading again to Las Vegas for the second yr, and I’m actually wanting ahead to it. We had an awesome end result there final season, going from sixteenth on the grid to fourth on the chequered flag,” mentioned Ocon within the crew’s media preview. “The circuit is unimaginable to drive with all of the drivers going flat out for a excessive proportion of every lap. Driving via the center of town is like no different. There are night time races beneath the lights after which there’s a night time race beneath the lights of Las Vegas. The purpose might be to maintain the momentum going from São Paulo and maximise the weekend to carry our P6 place within the championship.”
“It’s actually thrilling to be heading again to Las Vegas,” started Gasly. “The championship battle stays shut for P6 and we wish to maintain on to our place so we’d like to ensure we execute every part in the absolute best approach. We’ve proved that we are able to qualify nicely and combat for factors within the races and that’s our goal in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. It’ll be a problem, however the crew have been distinctive and I actually assume we are able to do it.
“Final yr we certified nicely in Las Vegas, however the race was troublesome for my aspect of the storage particularly with tire administration. The late begin time for the classes and the colder climate makes it an advanced occasion for tire warm-up which might be fascinating once more, however I need to say, I had a number of enjoyable driving the circuit final yr. I’m wanting ahead to extra of the identical this time and now we have our eyes on one other good efficiency.”