When Alpine determined to pair Pierre Gasly with Esteban Ocon, it was instantly met with questions on how the 2 former associates who grew up karting collectively would get alongside as teammates.
Whereas 2023 in addition to the beginning of the 2024 marketing campaign was a battle for the crew and never with out some tense moments — reminiscent of a gap lap collision between the 2 in the beginning of this season’s Monaco Grand Prix — Sunday’s System 1 São Paulo Grand Prix gave the pair a proverbial second within the solar.
Even when there was no solar to be discovered within the sky above a rain-soaked Interlagos.
Ocon completed second, with Gasly behind him in third, to provide the crew a double-podium end. It was the primary for the Enstone-based operation for the reason that 2013 marketing campaign, once they have been competing below the Lotus branding.
After the rostrum celebration, Ocon mirrored on that “stunning story” within the FIA Press Convention, whereas discussing how he’s leaving for Haas subsequent season.
“However, yeah, extraordinarily glad and proud, you recognize, of me and Pierre, to be trustworthy. We’ve had our tales at instances, however it’s been unbelievable to do this final formation lap. A whole lot of flashbacks got here again to my reminiscences, once we have been racing on the moist in go-karts, once we have been younger, even within the snow with the slick tires, we have been each racing collectively and ready for the rostrum or the win to return,” mentioned Ocon. “And at present, yeah, it tastes a bit like that. So, yeah, stunning story from the place we come from. And, yeah, that one will for certain endlessly keep engraved.”
His teammate echoed these ideas.
“I don’t suppose anybody can perceive. You understand, it’s a really private relationship between Esteban and myself. However we’ve been going by a lot. And as he talked about, all these instances we’ve had, like over winter, minus-five levels outdoors, we have been the one ones exhibiting up on the go-kart observe, going out within the rain, within the snow, slick tires, 9, 10, 11 years outdated,” mentioned Gasly. “And we’ve actually practiced these situations. And on a day like at present, I can let you know this truly made the distinction, all that observe. I bear in mind us getting again within the truck making an attempt to get heat after just a few laps as a result of we have been completely freezing. And it’s simply that we’ve had our ups and downs.
“However as you mentioned, this two years chapter as team-mates, I believe we will be very pleased with the best way we’ve pushed the crew ahead. It’s been powerful, clearly, this season, however we’ve all the time tried to push the crew in the proper route to by no means quit,” Gasly added. “And on a day like at present, even when the automotive has misbehaved for almost all of the season, everybody tried to place the A recreation, and it was simply an historic day for the crew. So very proud for everybody working within the crew to attain such a efficiency.”
The win vaulted Alpine up the standings, rocketing them from ninth to sixth within the Constructors’ Championship. Whereas three race weekends stay, and Alpine will face a tricky battle with Haas and Visa Money App RB F1 Group in that battle, they now have the benefit in that battle because the season winds down. Given how they’ve fared in latest weeks, one might nearly make the case that Alpine might have a bonus in that battle.
No matter how that seems, nevertheless, their drivers wrote a “stunning story” within the rain Sunday at Interlagos.
