The 2024 Method 1 season obtained off to a tough begin for Alpine.
However that exact same season is organising for an unimaginable 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. Nonetheless 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 because of a seventh-place end within the F1 Dash Race in Brazil, the group vaulted into sixth within the F1 Constructors’ Championship, arising all the way in which from ninth.
Now the group is primed for one more stable consequence on the Las Vegas Grand Prix, because of a powerful qualifying session from each drivers. Ocon superior to Q2 and simply missed out on Q3, and is ready to begin in P11.
“On my aspect, I’m very pleased with the lap in Qualifying right this moment and, although it’s a pity that we missed out on Q3 by only a tenth of a second, we will probably be beginning in eleventh, which places us able to attempt to battle for factors,” mentioned Ocon following qualifying within the group’s media report. “It will likely be fascinating to see how tire degradation will play into the outcomes of the race tomorrow. Hopefully it can open up the door to some good alternatives for us to maneuver ahead. We struggled a bit with traction and grip within the classes right this moment, however we’re working laborious to enhance, and we’ll give it every part tomorrow to maintain the tires alive and maximise any alternative that comes our approach. We did it final yr from additional again on the grid so now we have confidence we are able to come away with a superb group consequence.”
Nonetheless, the foremost story was Gasly’s efficiency. He stormed into Q3 and when mud lastly settled late Friday night time in Las Vegas Gasly was within the second row and can begin third, proper behind pole sitter George Russell.
“I’m very completely satisfied to qualify within the prime three right this moment,” mentioned Gasly. “The lap felt unimaginable and it was a kind of if you cross the road and that every part was thrown at it. I by no means imagined that we might be within the prime three, although, that was a shock. This monitor is all about positive margins and it’s difficult with the low downforce with plenty of sliding however I simply had plenty of enjoyable on the market too. We had one set of recent 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 every part however we all know the place our battle is. It’s a tricky race for tire degradation and graining. We now have to remain on prime of it as final yr at this race it price us. We’ve labored laborious as a group to grasp it and there may be extra laborious work tonight to arrange ourselves. We are going to go for it tomorrow with the goal of taking some factors.”
Crew Principal Oliver Oakes, who joined the group through the summer time break, paid tribute to each drivers and hailed Gasly’s “good” efficiency.
“From the get-go this weekend now we have appeared aggressive, particularly in these cooler situations,” started Oakes. However the subject 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 automotive 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 objective is to get each automobiles within the factors tomorrow. Much like final yr, we anticipate the situations will probably be difficult 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 “good” night time in Las Vegas may see them take an enormous step towards staying there.
