Alfa Romeo Racing had a reason to celebrate with double points in F1 Brazil GP as Kimi Raikkonen rues getting through Carlos Sainz while Antonio Giovinazzi was happy to resist Daniel Ricciardo.
The happenings in the F1 Brazil GP turned in favour of the Alfa Romeo duo as Raikkonen finished fourth with Giovinazzi in fifth to register their best-ever result in 2019. The 22 points they scored was the best team result apart from Red Bull Racing’s 25.
They remain eighth in the F1 constructors’ championship but they are just 10 behind Racing Point now, with only Abu Dhabi GP to go. Raikkonen also moved to 12th in the drivers’ standings with 43 to his name, as Giovinazzi moved to 17th with 14.
Already the Alfa Romeo duo were having a better run in the Top 10 but the retirements for Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc helped their cause even more. Raikkonen finished fifth with Giovinazzi sixth in the end.
However, a penalty to Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton helped them to be fourth and fifth as Raikkonen felt the podium was eventually possible as he missed overtaking McLaren’s Sainz, who defended well in closing stages despite having a stricken car.
“Lot of things happened in the end,” started Raikkonen. “I am a bit disappointed as I had the speed but in the last bit, there was too much understeer, especially when trying to follow the McLaren of Sainz, so I couldn’t get past for what turned out to be P3.
“It’s great to finally be able to celebrate our best result of the season as a team. It was a positive day and finally we were able to get the result we worked so hard for. We kept on our own most of the race, but at the end we were in the middle of the action.”
Amazingly, it is first points result for Raikkonen in the second half of the 2019 season after Hungarian GP. At the same time, Giovinazzi had Renault’s Ricciardo on his tail towards the end but the Italian was able to keep him off and show good race pace.
“I did one of my best starts I would say,” said Giovinazzi. “I gained I think three positions on the first lap. I am really happy with that and then also the team did a great job with the strategy, to do the re-start of the safety car with the soft was something really important.
“The final re-start, especially, when I was under pressure from Daniel [Ricciardo]. The last ten laps were crazy, it was quite intense but we managed to stay ahead. I am really happy for the team and good way for me to celebrate my 2020 contract.”
Here’s how the F1 Brazil GP panned out
Here’s what happened to Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari drivers
Carlos Sainz gets promoted to podium after being cleared of DRS issue
Ferrari drivers and Mattia Binotto react to the incident
Pierre Gasly enjoyed the brief tussle against Lewis Hamilton in Brazil