Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, fresh from their double podium at the Brazilian Grand Prix, spoke to the press ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Alpine comes off an unforgettable weekend in Brazil. Ocon and Gasly finished second and third, respectively, and thanks to their results, the French team made an incredible leap in the Constructors’ Championship standings, rising to sixth place.
A challenging position to defend, but not impossible, as highlighted by Gasly’s words ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Here’s what the French driver had to say: “It’s really exciting to be back in Las Vegas; the fight for P6 remains tight, and we want to hold on to our position, so we have to make sure we execute everything as best as possible. We’ve shown that we can qualify well and fight for points in the races, and that’s our goal in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. It will be a challenge, but the team has been exceptional, and I believe we can do it.
Last year we qualified well in Las Vegas, but the race was difficult for my side of the garage, especially with tire management. The late start times of the sessions and the cooler temperatures make it tricky to get the tires up to temperature, so that will be interesting again. But I have to say I really enjoyed driving the circuit last year. I’m looking forward to experiencing it again, and we have another good performance in mind.”
Today, Alpine also unveiled a special pink livery that will be used for the final three races of the season, a nod to the team’s recent past. Esteban Ocon, second in Brazil, also shared his thoughts. Here’s what the upcoming Haas driver had to say: “We’re back in Las Vegas for the second year, and I’m really looking forward to it. Last season we had a great result, going from 16th on the grid to 4th at the checkered flag. The track is incredible to drive, with all the drivers pushing to the limit every lap.
Driving in the heart of the city is unmatched. There are night races under the lights, and then there’s a night race under the lights of Las Vegas. The goal will be to keep the momentum from São Paulo and make the most of the weekend to maintain our sixth place in the championship.”
Photo: X Alpine F1 Team