Photo credit: www.motorsport.com
Alpine Secures Sixth Place in Constructors’ Championship Following a Tough Season
The 2024 Formula 1 season has concluded for Alpine with a notable finish, highlighted by Pierre Gasly’s seventh-place result in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which netted the team six critical points. This accomplishment enabled Alpine to secure sixth place in the constructors’ championship, placing them ahead of competitors like Haas F1 Team, Red Bull Racing, Williams, and Sauber.
In a post-race interview, Gasly expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, stating he was “extremely happy.” He reflected on how achieving sixth place would have seemed “unthinkable” at various points earlier in the season, given the challenges faced.
The 28-year-old driver acknowledged the dramatic oscillations of the season, emphasizing how the beginning was particularly challenging due to an underperforming car that tested the team’s resilience. “It was very tough for all of us in the team,” he noted.
A Season of Highs and Lows
The path to this achievement looked uncertain during the initial part of the season. In the first five races of 2024, neither Gasly nor his then-teammate Esteban Ocon managed to secure a top-10 finish, placing the team in a precarious position. However, as the mid-season approached, there were glimmers of hope with several ninth and tenth-place finishes.
The true turning point for Alpine came during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, where Ocon finished second and Gasly claimed third, marking the team’s first-ever double podium. Following that pivotal moment, Gasly’s strong performance—a fifth-place finish in Qatar, followed by a commendable showing in Abu Dhabi—solidified a promising end to what had been a tumultuous year.
Meeting Goals
Reflecting on the season, Gasly stated, “Coming here, there were three targets: to get sixth in the constructors, tenth in the drivers, and keep my nose clean so we’re still on $0 [in] damage. And, yeah, we completed all the targets.” His approach proved effective as he remarkably avoided any accidents that could have marred his performance, finishing just one point ahead of Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg in the drivers’ standings.
Ocon, who has been replaced by Jack Doohan for the upcoming Abu Dhabi race, ended the season ranked fourteenth in the drivers’ standings. Looking ahead to 2025, Gasly will embark on his third season with Alpine as he continues to pursue a sixth F1 podium and a second career victory. Ocon, meanwhile, is set to join Haas, where he will team up with Ferrari’s rising star, Oliver Bearman.
Source
www.motorsport.com