Flavio Briatore has revealed he immediately prioritised discovering the prize windfall Alpine could receive as a result of its double podium in Formula 1‘s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly benefitted massively by holding out from pitting at Interlagos, finding themselves first and third as the red flag fell.
That gave the two Frenchmen a free tyre change before the race was restarted and the duo finished second and third respectively.
The result has launched Alpine into sixth in the Constructors’ standings and Briatore told Sky Italy he immediately sought to crunch the numbers.
“From ninth place to sixth place is not 30 million [euros],” Briatore said.
“It’s 29.2 million! It’s the first thing I asked.”
Both Ocon and Gasly hailed their experience of karting in the snow and rain as children, following the incredible result.
Where others faltered, the Alpine pairing kept cool under pressure to deliver.
Britatore admitted luck went Alpine’s way in Sao Paulo, but he credited the team’s drivers with putting in a strong performance.
“Without taking anything away from an incredible Ocon in the wet and Gasly, who did his job well, we were also lucky,” Briatore 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.”
Briatore rang Alpine boss ‘as soon as the flag dropped’
Briatore returned to the Enstone/Viry-based Alpine squad in June, tasked with making changes that will promote future success for the outfit.
Once such decision Vriatore consulted on was bringing in new Team Principal Oliver Oakes, who Briatore rang as soon as Ocon and Gasly crossed the finish line at Interlagos.
“Well, [Flavio] rang me as soon as the flag dropped,” Oakes said.
“And he said, ‘why haven’t you rang me yet?’
“I said, ‘I’ve been a bit busy.’ No, 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.”
READ MORE – Alpine: ‘Game on’ for $50 million F1 prize after Brazil double podium
