19-11-2024
BWT Alpine Formula One Team heads to the Las Vegas Strip Circuit for Round 22 of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
- Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly preview the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Esteban Ocon:
Hungry for More
The weekend in São Paulo was incredible, it still feels like a fever dream. It has been a difficult year for us as a team so to get a double podium was amazing and it has definitely made everyone hungry for more. The team worked really hard to get the result we did, and I am so proud of everyone, both at the track and the two factories for all they put into it. We had a very positive Qualifying which set us up beautifully for the race. We then maximized everything in the race itself, showing exactly what we can do in mixed conditions, and we came away with an incredible haul of points for the team. Now we hope to carry that hunger and momentum over to the final three races of the season to close out on a positive note together.
It’s Vegas Baby
We are heading back to Las Vegas for the second year, and I am really looking forward to it. We had a great result there last season, going from 16th on the grid to fourth at the chequered flag. The circuit is incredible to drive with all the drivers going flat out for a high percentage of each lap. Driving through the heart of the city is like no other. There are night races under the lights and then there is a night race under the lights of Las Vegas. The aim will be to keep the momentum going from São Paulo and maximize the weekend to hold our P6 position in the championship.
Esteban Stats – Las Vegas Grand Prix
Starts in Las Vegas: 1
Points in Las Vegas: 12
Average Points: 12
Best Grid Position: 16th (2023)
Best Finish: 4th (2023)
Best Qualifying Lap Time: 1min 34.834secs (2023)
Fastest Lap: 1min 36.637secs (2023)
Did you know?
Esteban and Pierre became the first pair of French drivers to finish on the podium in the same race for 27 years. Olivier Panis and Jean Alesi were both on the podium at the Spanish Grand Prix in 1997, the year after Esteban and Pierre were born!
Pierre Gasly:
Sweet São Paulo
Wow, what a couple of weeks! The whole team has been celebrating the double podium we achieved in São Paulo back at Enstone and Viry. I know there was champagne at the team debrief and we even had a special visit from our local farmer, Jeremy Clarkson. It’s been really nice to celebrate, especially as we have struggled at times this year. We have been fighting back, though, no one has given up and we saw that in Brazil. Anything is possible in mixed conditions and we now have two trophies as proof of that. I want to say an enormous thank you to everyone in the team for continuing to do such a good job. We scored the biggest points haul of any team during the race weekend and we are now in the fight for P6 in the Constructors’. It’s full focus now for the final triple-header as there’s a big prize at stake.
Full focus
It’s really exciting to be heading back to Las Vegas. The championship battle remains close for P6 and we want to hold on to our position so we need to make sure we execute everything in the best possible way. We’ve proved that we can qualify well and fight for points in the races and that’s our target in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. It’ll be a challenge, but the team have been exceptional and I really think 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 tyre management. The late start time for the sessions and the colder weather makes it a complicated event for tyre warmup which will be interesting again, but I must say, I had a lot of fun driving the circuit last year. I’m looking forward to more of the same this time and we have our eyes on another good performance.
Pierre Stats – Las Vegas Grand Prix
Starts in Las Vegas: 1
Points in Las Vegas: 0
Average Points: 0
Best Grid Position: 4th (2023)
Best Finish: 11th (2023)
Best Qualifying Lap Time: 1min.33.239secs (2023)
Fastest Lap: 1min 36.913secs (2023)
Did you know?
Alpine enjoyed the most successful weekend of the season in São Paulo, becoming only the fourth team to score a double podium finish in 2024. The last double podium finish for the Enstone-based F1 team was courtesy of Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean at the 2013 Korean GP.