Sunday's race at Interlagos may have delivered a substantial 30 million euro reward for the struggling Alpine team.
Flavio Briatore, Alpine's famous and new executive advisor, highlighted the financial significance of the Brazilian GP result. Briatore, who recently joined to help rejuvenate Alpine amid owner Renault's seismic decision to end its works F1 engine program for 2026, acknowledged the impact of the race.
Before the Brazilian GP, Alpine was second-to-last in the constructors' standings, amid ongoing challenges with a highly uncompetitive car and leadership turmoil.
By the end of the often rain-soaked race, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly both stood on the podium alongside Max Verstappen, propelling Alpine to sixth in the constructors' standings and overtaking Williams, RB, and Haas.
"Without taking anything away from an incredible Ocon in the wet and a Gasly who did his job well, today we were also lucky," Briatore told Sky Italia.
"I think we have a car that is better in the wet. Unfortunately I don't think the next three races will be wet," he commented. "But today we saw with all these young drivers presented as new phenomena how much experience still counts in Formula 1."
The 74-year-old executive explained that his initial focus since joining the team has been on streamlining operations rather than heavily investing in the 2024 car.
"This year we did more of a house cleaning," said Briatore. "We made only one real evolutionary step so as not to disturb the 2025 project, and the step we took was in the direction of 2025 in any case. That is all I authorised."
"It went well, because this year many teams took steps back when they brought updates. So well done to our engineers."
Briatore, renowned for his success with Benetton and Renault - the team's former guises in the 90s and 2000s - emphasized his approach of managing lean but effective operations.
He noted, "We need to get back to having people working for a racing team and not for a corporate company. We have gone back to how Renault was before.
"Those who are left exclusively deal with the team and F1. Everyone else has gone," Briatore revealed. "When I arrived there were 1150 people, now we are 850."
He expressed full support for Renault CEO Luca de Meo's decision to discontinue Renault's works F1 engine program after next year.
"We have put things back the way they should be, with the team based in Great Britain independent from everything else," said Briatore.
Looking ahead to Las Vegas, Briatore admits Alpine may struggle due to the track's emphasis on engine performance.
"In Vegas we will certainly suffer because it is an engine circuit. In the wet, the difference in engine power is effectively zeroed out," he said.
"We must make up for this deficit for 2025, as we are missing about three tenths just in engine. But we still need to do well by improving aerodynamically and with the tyres, without feeling sorry for ourselves."
If Alpine can hold onto sixth place in the constructors' standings, Sunday's performance in Brazil will be remembered as a critical financial boost.
"From ninth place to sixth place is not 30 million (euros)," Briatore clarified to Sky Italia. "It's 29.2 million. It's the first thing I asked," he smiled.
"In any case, today we saw an incredible grand prix."
