After an impressive qualifying round, Alpine driver Pierre Gasly surprisingly secured a second-row start for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. However, his race was short-lived. In the sixteenth lap, the Frenchman retired due to engine problems. His teammate, Esteban Ocon, did not fare much better, finishing in seventeenth place, leaving Alpine to return home without any points. As a result, the team was overtaken by Haas in the Constructors’ Championship.
Following a double podium finish in São Paulo, Alpine had recently risen from eighth to sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship. This was a fantastic leap for the French team, which could also expect a significant increase in prize money if they finished higher in the standings. However, due to the lack of points in Las Vegas, Alpine has slipped back to seventh place. Rival team Haas, thanks to Nico Hülkenberg, scored four points in the gambling city and thus overtook Alpine.
In Formula 1, each position in the Constructors’ Championship is worth approximately ten million dollars, which is nearly ten million euros. This means that Haas’ lead – a mere one point – could make a significant financial difference. Alpine has two more races to regain their position and claim the extra prize money. At the same time, Visa RB is also closing in on the sixth spot. The next two weeks promise to be a fierce battle in the so-called midfield.
For Haas, the leap to sixth place is a brilliant achievement. The American team finished last in the Constructors’ Championship last year, but under the leadership of team boss Ayao Komatsu, the team has experienced a resurgence in recent months.
The current standings in the Constructors’ Championship are:
- McLaren (608 points)
- Ferrari (584 points)
- Red Bull (555 points)
- Mercedes (425 points)
- Aston Martin (86 points)
- Haas (50 points)
- Alpine (49 points)
- Visa RB (46 points)
- Williams (17 points)
- Sauber (0 points)
