Alpine Shines at Brazilian GP with Ocon and Gasly Podium Finish
In a thrilling Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, French drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly from Alpine secured a remarkable podium finish, with Ocon taking second place and Gasly finishing third. This marked a significant turnaround for the Alpine team, which had been struggling throughout the season. The duo's performance not only brought them personal triumph but also propelled Alpine from ninth to sixth in the Constructors' Championship, earning them a total of 33 points this weekend alone.
The race, held under challenging rainy conditions, saw Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing take the top spot after starting from 17th position. Ocon reminisced about their karting days in Normandy, stating, "It's a bit like the good old days!" This podium finish was particularly poignant as it was the first time Ocon and Gasly celebrated together on the podium as teammates, despite their previous rivalries and clashes earlier in the season.
Williams Faces Disastrous Weekend in Brazil
While Alpine celebrated their success, Williams Racing faced a catastrophic weekend. Both of their cars, driven by Franco Colapinto and Alex Albon, were severely damaged during the race, resulting in a significant financial setback for the team. Colapinto's car suffered extensive damage after a crash on lap 32, while Albon's car could not be repaired in time, leading to a disappointing outcome for the British team.
This disaster dropped Williams further down the Constructors' standings, as they now sit in ninth place with only 17 points, while Alpine surged to 49 points. The financial implications are substantial, with Alpine's earnings potentially increasing from $69 million to about $95 million, while Williams lost approximately $9 million due to their poor performance. Colapinto expressed his disappointment, stating, "I'm very sad... the team did a great job getting the car on track. They didn't deserve this." As the season progresses, both teams will be looking to recover and improve their standings in the upcoming races.
