Alpine confirms Gasly: he has signed a contract extension that will keep him in Formula 1 for several years. With this move, the French driver has secured his future in Formula 1, while Alpine fills one of its vacant seats for 2025.
Gasly, currently in his second season with the French team, finished the last drivers’ championship in 11th place, four points ahead of his teammate Esteban Ocon. The rivalry between the two is always thorny and complex, with Gasly demonstrating greater consistency on track.
The Alpine team faced a difficult start in 2024, entering the season with a car that was approximately 10 kg heavier than expected. However, thanks to constant improvements and efforts to reduce weight, the team’s performance has improved significantly.
In the last two Grands Prix, the team achieved double points finishes, with Gasly finishing both races in 9th place and Ocon in 10th place in Montreal and Spain. Currently, Gasly leads his teammate Norman by five points to three in the drivers’ standings.
“I feel really at home in this great team. I enjoy being an integral part of both the Formula 1 project and the broader vision of Alpine Cars.“, Gasly stated. “I’ve been officially here for over 18 months, and the plan has always been to build a long-term project with the team. Even though this season has been challenging, I remain committed to the project and have no intention of going anywhere. I’m happy with the changes made, the hard work, and the direction the team is taking. There is great potential in the personnel and resources of this team. I’m excited about what the future holds, and for now, I’m focusing on the daily details we’re implementing to improve our performance..”
While it was always likely that Gasly would stay at Alpine, he had attracted interest from other teams on the grid with vacancies. Sauber was believed to be a potential destination as it prepares for its transformation into Audi for 2026. However, Ocon’s departure may have convinced Gasly to stay, as their strained relationship due to numerous on-track incidents had been a factor.
This tension peaked in Monaco when Ocon attempted to overtake his teammate at Portier, resulting in contact that damaged Gasly’s car. This episode drew the ire of team principal Bruno Famin, and Ocon’s imminent departure was announced shortly after the incident, before the Montreal round.
“The extension of Pierre’s contract with the team is very pleasing,” stated Famin. “He is a driver with great experience in Formula 1 and continues to demonstrate enormous potential on track. For Alpine as a brand, he is a great ambassador, and therefore we are pleased to continue our collaboration. While this is important for our future, we also need to focus on improving our current package. We have great ambitions for this season and will work tirelessly to achieve these goals. We will take our time to decide Pierre’s teammate, and we are excited about the options we have on the table..”
At the moment, it is not yet known who will partner with Gasly in the team, although it is understood that the team made a late offer to lure Carlos Sainz back into the Enstone team. Reserve driver Jack Doohan and Alpine World Endurance Championship driver Mick Schumacher are also on the list for a seat, with both set to participate in a test at Paul Ricard with the team’s 2022 car.
The Formula 1 driver market has been very dynamic so far, with Carlos Sainz appearing close to signing with Williams before being enticed by a release clause for 2026 offered by Alpine. This change of perspective has stirred up the paddock, with Sainz now very likely to secure a seat at Alpine for 2025.
With Gasly’s contract extension and speculation about the future teammate, Alpine seems to be aiming for a combination of experience and young talent to tackle the future challenges of the Formula 1 championship.
