Gasly had a look at other options before deciding to stay put at Alpine
Pierre Gasly says that the “huge potential” he sees at the Alpine Formula 1 team convinced him to remain in the Enstone camp after he’d had a look at other options.
On Thursday the team announced that the Frenchman has signed a multi-year deal that takes him into the period of the new regulations that come into force in 2026.
Gasly had been linked with a Sauber/Audi seat should Carlos Sainz turn it down, and he admits that he had looked around before committing to staying with Alpine.
“Contractually, you always need to have a look quite a long time in advance,” he said when asked by this writer about his other options.
“And obviously, when Lewis [Hamilton] announced at the start of the year, it sort of started and triggered the whole market a lot earlier than what we would have anticipated.
“Since the Lewis news there was a lot of talks here and there, obviously always having in mind that I’ve signed with Alpine to be at the top with Alpine, and it definitely hasn’t been the result so far that I’ve dreamt of with the team.
“But I definitely believe there is huge potential. I repeat it, I’ve seen a lot of positive signs happening inside the team, not only at the track, but also back at the factory.
“I followed closely also the development for 2026 which to me, was the most important thing for my next contract, because we start into a new regulation.
“And then it was a constant conversation, very open. And the team obviously showed from day one a lot of interest and the desire to work with me, which is something very important to me – to work with people that are definitely pushing hard to get you, and want to get you on the project.”
The news of Gasly’s contract came shortly after Flavio Briatore was announced as an advisor to Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo, with drivers as part of his job description.
However Gasly says that the Italian wasn’t key to the timing of the deal.
“Flavio didn’t really influence, it was already long conversation over the last couple of months, and it was about time to commit for my future,” he said.
“And I’m very, very happy and very excited to commit to the team, because it’s good to have some stability.
“I think in my career I went through Toro Rosso to Red Bull back to Alpine, but not always with a strong dynamic, and from what I’m seeing from the team, and my relationship with the team, with Luca de Meo, with Bruno, is going extremely well, and we’ve got clear ambitions.
“I really like Luca’s vision and where he wants to bring the team over the next few years. And I trust as well in his management, and I’m just very excited to be part of the project.”
Regarding Briatore’s suggestion that it will take two years to turn the team around Gasly said: “I’m an optimistic person and a positive person. And I definitely welcome anyone who’s coming to contribute positively to the team.
“So he’s got very clear ideas and clear ambitions. He’s been there as well. He’s been working with the team, and he seems very excited to bring all these ingredients to Enstone. And if we can make it in two years, I’ll be more than happy.”
He added: “I don’t think there is a secret person or tool that can really trigger a big change. Obviously, we talk a lot about the main figures of a race team.
“But when you see the amount of people working back at the factory and who are actually providing the performance, finding the gains in the wind tunnel, in the CFD, mechanically, I’ve been going quite deep in the team with all the different departments and giving my inputs and working quite closely with them, trying to lead them to where I want.
“And there is a very good communication, very transparent. Obviously, it will take some time before we were able to correct the slow start of the year we have.”
Gasly says that his faith in the technical structure was the key to his decision.
“I think personally I’ve seen enough in F1 to know that you can’t really rely on a single car concept,” he noted.
“McLaren has proved it in the last two years. Mercedes also has shown that sometimes you get it right, and sometimes you can get it wrong. And it takes some time to get back to the top.
“But it’s mainly in the structure, the facilities and the technical track you are bringing which was the most important to me.
“So that’s why I tried to pay attention over the last couple of months, and trying to see the dynamic going on at the factory, and how, regardless of the performance on track, which is obviously miles away from where we want to be, but trying to see what sort of solutions we’re trying to bring on board.
“Obviously Luca and Bruno [Famin] played a big part, because everyone’s trying to defend what they have, and 2026 is also going to be a big change of regulations. That’s why I took a bit of time before making my own decision.”
Suggestions that the team may use a customer Mercedes or Honda PU in 2026 and abandon the Viry project have added an intriguing twist to the situation at Alpine. However, Gasly sees plenty of commitment from Renault.
“I have constant conversations with Luca, pretty much almost weekly,” he said. “And it’s been very clear, and I think it’s been very clear in the media, that his goal in F1 is to bring the team, and he’s committed 100% with Alpine.
“So it’s never really been a question mark on my side. And I know how committed they are as a brand they are with Renault, with Alpine. no and I know also how much belief they’ve got in the team, and how much belief I have in the guys that that we have in Enstone and in Viry.”
Adam Cooper F1 