After a chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, Max Verstappen reigned supreme. During the Red Flags, there were numerous calls for the safety car and endless rainfall. But no one predicted that the Enstone team, Alpine, would cross the line second and third during Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly would tackle the unpredictable weather conditions and race delays to take 33 points for Alpine. A result that now sees the French team move from ninth to sixth in the Constructors Championship.
Alpine’s Super Sunday Recap
Esteban Ocon lined up in fourth place, and Pierre Gasly lined up in 13th. After the first lap, both cars survived, with Gasly moving to ninth. But by Lap 5, the number 10 car would be relegated to 10th place by the raging bull of Max Verstappen.
After a few drivers chose to change to another set of Intermediate tyres, Pierre was promoted to sixth. But another opportunity presented itself to the French team.
On lap 28, Nico Hulkenberg spins out across the run-off area into Turn 1, beaching the German driver and deploying the Virtual Safety Car. All the drivers pit except for Esteban Ocon, Max Verstappen, and Pierre Gasly, who all took the risk to stay out and now line up first, second, and third on Lap 29.
On lap 30, speculation ran on when the two Alpine drivers and Max Verstappen would stop for another set of Intermediates. Suddenly, a Safety Car was deployed. Why? The rain intensity increased.
But Lap 32 threw another lifeline to the Alpine drivers. The Red Flag was bought out due to barrier-stricken Williams at the end of ‘Subida dos Boxes’, Turn 14. Franco Colapinto. Therefore, the race would be stopped, and all the drivers would line up in the pit lane, awaiting further instructions.
Returning to the race, Esteban Ocon leads the pack, heading down to Turn 1 with Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly in toe on Lap 34. And it was not long until cars slid off the track once.
Lap 39, Carlos Sainz crashes into the barrier at Turn 8, bringing out the safety car again and bunching up the field. For Ocon, it was another test to keep the charging bull of Verstappen behind him. But on Lap 43, when the race resumed, the Dutch driver got the better of the French driver, overtaking him into Turn 1. Now, the Alpine drivers were sitting in second and third place.
But for 26 laps, the Alpine drivers kept their composure, crossing the line second and third, taking 33 points back to Enstone. They would celebrate this day as the Alpine team moved from ninth in the Constructors Championship to sixth.
What is Next for Alpine?
After a tremendous double points finish, Alpine now sit just 37 points behind the Slivertone-based team of Aston Martin. Who failed to score points yet again. And dethrone the dark horses of Haas now to seventh, who are three points behind Alpine.
A roll-of-the-dice decision made by Alpine and Red Bull became the definition of high risk, high reward, and now puts Alpine in contention to steal fifth place in the Constructors Championship.
But with 86 points left and three races to go, including a Sprint Race weekend in Qatar, this is a crucial part of the season now. Both Ocon and Gasly should take risks on track for more prize money at the end of the season.
While Pierre and Esteban are not the best of friends, their distaste for each other would need to be set aside for the betterment of the team reaching for fifth place in the Constructors Championship.
So, will Alpine stand strong to steal fifth place from Aston Martin? Will Aston Martin be able to thwart the threat from the boys in blue? Or will the American team of Haas play the trump card and put themselves within the mix for the fight for fifth?
If you would like to learn more news about the world of Formula 1? Then why not check out “Brazilian Grand Prix: Home of the Autódromo José Carlos Pace” or “Ferrari Now Second Place: The Championship Hunt Is On!”
