Briatore praises Alpine for perfect storm in Brazil – counts the cash
Flavio Briatore, was full of praise for Alpine's stunning performance in last weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
However, the French outfit’s executive advisor acknowledged that luck had played a significant role in the team's unexpected double-podium finish.
Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly capitalized on the chaotic conditions at Interlagos, holding out on a critical pit stop and finding themselves in prime positions when a red flag was deployed mid-way through the rain-drenched event.
But thanks to a free tyre change executed during the race’s stoppage, the strategic gamble paid off handsomely, as the duo finished second and third respectively, securing a massive haul of 35 points for the team.
Speaking this week to Sky Italy, Briatore, ever the astute businessman, couldn't help but notice the financial implications of Alpine's impressive result. With the team climbing from ninth to sixth in the Constructors' Championship, a substantial bonus of around $30 million was on the horizon.
"From ninth place to sixth place is not 30 million," Briatore joked with a blend of humor and hard-headed business acumen. "It's 29.2 million! It's the first thing I asked."
While crediting the team's drivers for their exceptional performance, Briatore also acknowledged the role of luck in their success.
“Without taking anything away from an incredible Ocon in the wet and Gasly, who did his job well, we were also lucky,” the Italian said.
“I think we have a car that is better in the wet. Unfortunately, I don’t think the next three races [in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi] will be wet.
“We saw, with all these young drivers presented as new phenomena, how much experience still counts in Formula 1. In any case, we saw an incredible Grand Prix.”
©Alpine
Briatore’s enthusiasm extended to Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes, who shared a humorous anecdote about the Italian’s eagerness to connect after the stunning performance.
“Well, [Flavio] rang me as soon as the flag dropped, and he said, ‘Why haven’t you rang me yet?’” Oakes recalled, quoted by Motorsport Week. “I said, ‘I’ve been a bit busy.’
“But he’s been a big part of it. Everyone is a great team, and you can see how much it means to him to be here on the track.
“Even when he’s not here, he’s on the phone to me, texting me. I’m really happy for him, actually. You can see how much it means to him.”
As the team looks to finish strong in the season’s remaining races in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, the potential financial gain from their Sao Paulo leap will be a tantalizing motivator.
The Alpine team knows they’ll need more than luck to hold their new position, but with an advisor as enthusiastic – and sharp-eyed – as Briatore, they have a leader determined to extract every ounce of potential from the opportunity they’ve seized.
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