Ocon, Gasly hail “incredible” double Alpine podium after “tough season”
Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly labelled an “incredible” double-podium for Alpine in a dramatic, rain-hit Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix after “such a tough season” for the French team.
In a season which has seen a number of management changes, plus the controversial decision for Renault to cut off its F1 engine plans for 2026, Alpine scored comfortably its biggest points haul of 2024 as Ocon finished second while Gasly was third.
Both moved up the order by electing not to pit in worsening rain for new tyres, as leaders George Russell and Lando Norris did, before a red flag presented the duo and eventual winner Max Verstappen with a free pitstop.
Previously, its best result had been ninth, as Alpine ended a podium drought dating back to the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix with Gasly.
The result moved Alpine ahead of Haas, RB and Williams to sixth in the lucrative constructors’ championship, having arrived at Interlagos ninth in the standings ahead only of scoreless Sauber.
Paying homage to a quote from Brazilian racing legend Ayrton Senna, who once said “you cannot overtake 15 cars in sunny weather, but you can when it’s raining”, Ocon said: “What a day that was.
“After the difficult season, it’s really nice to be driving around here and having the performance a bit levelled out because of the rain.
“Someone very important to all of us said a long time ago that in the rain the cars are almost equal, and that phrase didn’t age at all.
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“I’m very happy to be on the podium. I think it’s been awesome.
“The car was extremely difficult in the dry and I was really at ease when it started to rain this morning and last night.
“I already wanted to get some laps in the rain. I love it here when it rains and today has brought a special race for us.”
Ocon led to the restart, where he was overtaken by Verstappen, but Gasly held position to beat Russell into third.
Gasly added that suggestions the team could score a double-podium seemed extremely unlikely earlier in the season.
He said: “It’s incredible for the whole team. We have had such a tough season, we’ve struggled to score points.
“In these conditions, everything was possible but we did not believe it until the end, two cars on the podium.
“I don’t think anyone would have got that on that bingo card! It’s just fantastic.
“I’m absolutely buzzing right now. I’m just so proud of the team. To overcome such a tough season.
“It would have been too easy to give up, but we never gave up. And here we are, both cars, P2 and P3 and a lot of points for the team. Everybody should be very proud today.”
