Esteban Ocon shares what was ‘worth it’ after securing Sao Paulo Grand Prix podium

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Esteban Ocon secured the unlikeliest of podiums at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, coming at a crucial time for his Alpine team.

They were in desperate need of a result to salvage more prize money from their season – sitting in a lowly eighth place in the constructors’ standings before the lights went out in Brazil.

It could mean a difference of around £12 million, and help unlock more future developments and upgrades for them.

It has been a pretty miserable year by their standards, but their double podium – a first in over 11 years, gives them some light at the end of the tunnel.

Esteban Ocon says extra sleep was ‘worth it’

As a result of the torrential rain that fell over the circuit on Saturday, qualifying was postponed and rescheduled for early Sunday morning.

That meant an early wake-up call for the drivers, who were impacted by the race time being brought forward to account for any delays that would be required.

Max Verstappen must have slept well, as he dominated for Red Bull to claim an emphatic victory from 17th on the grid.

READ MORE: Naomi Schiff points out mistake McLaren keep making after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

However, as he revealed on X (formerly known as Twitter) after the race, Esteban Ocon enjoyed some extra sleep before the race.

“That extra minute of sleep was DEFINITELY worth it – iykyk.”

Can Alpine secure sixth in the constructors championship?

It’s now a three-way fight for sixth in the constructors’ championship, between Alpine, Haas, and Visa Cash App RB.

Prize money can go a long way for the teams in receipt of it, especially in the middle of the pack, where every dollar makes a difference.

The final three races are going to be a fascinating fight, with Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi all posing their own challenges.

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton sends three-word message to Max Verstappen after winning the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Haas appeared to have the most momentum, but have lost that this weekend, and will need to rediscover their excellent pace.

If they fail to do so, they may end up eighth despite closing the season with the fifth-fastest car on the grid.