Alpine has revealed that there was an incident which incited some “needle” between the team’s drivers prior to its double podium at Formula 1‘s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The Enstone-based squad capitalised on wet conditions in Brazil to claim a 33-point haul which elevated it up three places to sixth in the Constructors’ Championship.
Esteban Ocon qualified in fourth, but team-mate Pierre Gasly had to climb up the order as an ill-timed stoppage consigned him to being eliminated in Q2 in 12th place.
However, Gasly had been enraged with his team-mate, who had barged past him at the pit exit in the second segment of Sunday morning’s delayed qualifying session.
That episode prompted new Alpine boss Oliver Oakes to intervene to ensure that the air was cleared between the two drivers heading into the remaining three rounds.
“There was a little bit of needle after Q2, but it turned out fine,” Oakes told media including Motorsport Week.
“In all honesty, there was nothing that anyone did wrong, it was really thanks to the red flag as it was a real race out of the pits to get a lap.
“It wasn’t just Pierre who felt a bit hard done by, it was Max and a few others as well, but Esteban did his job.
“At the end of the day, in those situations, I said to them: ‘Look, everyone has got to fight for themselves’ but it is nice that anything won’t be lingering into next week.
“But we still needed to have a chat, because you can’t hide from doing that.”
Oakes praises Gasly and Ocon’s role in F1 recovery
Gasly and Ocon’s track record has been well-documented as the two were close childhood friends until an on-track clash contributed to that relationship deteriorating.
Oakes, who was appointed in July, heralded the part the two French drivers held in the team achieving the result that more than doubled its previous 2024 points total.
Asked how big a role the drivers had in the Anglo-French marque recording its first double podium since 2013, Oakes responded: “I think it’s big.
“I think I said it very early on when I joined, actually, that Pierre and Esteban, I know they’ve had their history, their differences, to put it lightly.
“But they are strong, and you can see it in the team. They work hard. They’re committed. Even the tough weekends we’ve had, they’re pushing.
“And at the end of the day, they do play a massive part, even in today’s result. You could see that.
“It was tough conditions, keeping it on track, making those calls, and they both got it absolutely spot on.”
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