Greatest second
There have been quite a few ‘gentle on the finish of the tunnel’ moments through the mid-season that hinted at indicators of hope for Alpine following a difficult begin to the marketing campaign, comparable to their double factors finishes in Canada and Spain.
However clearly nothing might topple that shock podium in Sao Paulo, a exceptional achievement allowing for that each drivers had discovered themselves behind the pack a couple of months earlier when the season obtained beneath manner in Bahrain.
There have been a number of strands to the impression of Gasly and Ocon sharing the rostrum; not solely did it extremely haul Alpine up from P9 to P6 within the constructors’ standings – a place that they finally held onto by the tip of the yr regardless of robust competitors – however it additionally marked a captivating second between the 2 drivers, a relationship that has famously skilled many ups and downs since their childhood karting days.
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Worst second
Regardless of ending the marketing campaign on a excessive notice, there have been numerous incidents from the beginning of Alpine’s season that could possibly be pinpointed on this class, from a collision between Gasly and Ocon in Monaco via to the seemingly countless personnel adjustments that had been taking part in out behind the scenes – together with the arrival of their third Group Principal in 18 months – which all appeared to trace at some instability.
There was additionally additional upheaval when it was introduced in September that the squad will now not use a works Renault energy unit from 2026 and can as an alternative turn into a buyer staff, resulting in extra give attention to their off-track goings-on reasonably than their on-track exercise.
Nonetheless, maybe the hardest second got here proper out of the blocks on the Bahrain Grand Prix, the place each vehicles lined up behind the grid and endured an equally troublesome Sunday that noticed them come residence in seventeenth and 18th. It was a weekend the place the size of the duty forward of the staff turned dauntingly clear.
