Haas workforce boss Ayao Komatsu revealed he “by no means anticipated” Alpine to safe its double podium in Brazil that vaulted it to sixth within the Method 1 constructors’ standings – however he pointed to the optimistic efficiency displayed by future driver Esteban Ocon.
Alpine has struggled all 12 months following a poor opening to the season with no factors till spherical six in Miami, but reworked its marketing campaign with a surprising 2-3 at Interlagos final weekend.
Ocon, who completed second forward of team-mate Pierre Gasly and at one stage pulled out a spot to Max Verstappen while main, will be a part of Haas in 2025 to accomplice Oliver Bearman in an all-new line-up and that gave Komatsu a silver lining to what was a disappointing weekend general.
“I by no means anticipated Alpine to attain a double podium however we all the time knew that something can occur,” Komatsu, whose workforce scored zero factors on the Brazilian Grand Prix, informed Motorsport.com.
“In these sorts of chaotic races, anybody can rating 15 factors. I wasn’t anticipating 33 factors, nevertheless it occurred. Congratulations to Alpine, their automobile was mega in moist situations, so fast.
“If there’s a optimistic, Esteban, our driver for subsequent 12 months, drove so properly. So I despatched a message to congratulate him right away. It’s important to respect your opposition, they did an excellent job, that they had the right automobile for these situations.”
Ayao Komatsu, Staff Principal, Haas F1 Staff, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Staff, Mark Slade, Race Engineer, Haas F1 Staff
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photos
Haas was comfortably sixth earlier than that consequence, with Nico Hulkenberg persevering with his season-long tempo and Kevin Magnussen gathering momentum, solely to overlook the weekend by way of sickness.
However following Ocon and Gasly’s performances within the treacherous situations, in addition to RB’s double factors end, the three groups are separated by simply 5 factors heading into the ultimate three rounds of the season.
“I feel I stated with eight races to go, a pleasant hole to Alpine, we simply need to be on it each single occasion – that hasn’t been the case,” conceded Komatsu, whose workforce is now seventh within the championship.
“In Austin, we dropped off on Sunday, [in Brazil] sure, the automobile shouldn’t be fast sufficient on intermediate tyres however operationally we must always have executed a lot a lot better.
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, 1st place, Esteban Ocon, Alpine F1 Staff, 2nd place, Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Staff, third place, Pierre Wache, Technical Director, Pink Bull Racing, on the rostrum
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photos
“From SQ, there was not a single session which was adequate so we’ve got to take a look at ourselves and say if we wish to be on the high of the midfield groups, we’ve got to enhance operationally.
“The optimistic is when you take a look at our drivers, Ollie in SQ3, and not using a management field failure he ought to have been preventing for P6. So within the dry, we had the tempo however on the inters in moist situations, we did not have that a lot tempo. However nonetheless, we must always have come away with factors.
“I simply must inspire folks, so the final three races, we simply need to be on it. Then hopefully, if they’re dry races, we must always have the ability to rating factors.”
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