Alpine Celebrates Historic Double Podium in Brazil
This past weekend at the iconic Interlagos circuit in Brazil, Alpine marked a significant milestone. Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly achieved a double podium finish, taking second and third places behind the indomitable Max Verstappen. This is a momentous occasion for Alpine, as it is their first double podium since the team was reborn from Renault in 2017. This achievement has tangible benefits, elevating Alpine from ninth to sixth in the constructors' championship standings, with potential financial ramifications that could see an extra $50 million flow into the team's coffers.
A Journey from Karting to Podium
The story of Ocon and Gasly is one of persistence, shared dreams, and mutual respect that has endured since their early karting days. Their journey together has crisscrossed years and continents, rooted in the competitive yet intensively educational environments of karting tracks. As they occupied the Interlagos podium, both were visibly moved, reflecting on the path that brought them to this triumphant moment.
"You remember [in karting] when we were driving in the rain?" Esteban Ocon jested, a nod to the days when their love for racing transcended any adverse conditions. Pierre Gasly responded fondly, "Even in the snow! Same in the days when we were the only ones showing up at the track. But it's all worth it."
Against the Odds
The partnership of Ocon and Gasly on the Alpine team is considered a significant achievement against all odds. From their earliest days as hopeful young racers, it seemed unlikely that their paths would coalesce in such a triumphant manner on a Formula 1 podium. Gasly captures the sentiment: "As a kid, from where we came from, to end up as teammates was against all odds ... but [also] to end up on the same podium on a season like this year. Because no-one thought we could have put a podium. In the way we did it just incredible."
For them, the podium finish wasn't just a professional high; it was a personal triumph—one that illustrated their unique story, unknown to many outside their immediate circle. "For our story, nobody knows our story, it's something that is personal to us," Gasly articulated. Despite the trials and challenges along the way, their shared podium finish made it a special and poignant moment, as Gasly further reflected, "But regardless of everything that happened, on a day like today it makes it very special and it's a beautiful story."
A Lifetime Moment
The Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos provided Ocon and Gasly with what they both described as one of life's most extraordinary moments. For Gasly, it was a realization of a dream: "This is a moment of a lifetime." Ocon echoed this sentiment in a moment of introspection about their journey: "It paid off and I tell you when we did that formation, on the in-lap, that was the first thing that came into my mind. What a beautiful story that is."
Their friendship and dedication, forged in the crucible of motorsport's grassroots level, have now reached a peak many might not have foreseen. The Brazilian Grand Prix has etched their names into Alpine's history, marking a new chapter for the team and its drivers.
In a sport often dominated by technical precision and strategic prowess, it is refreshing to witness the emergence of such a heartwarming narrative—a testament not only to professional skill but also to the enduring power of friendship and shared dreams in the high-octane world of Formula 1.