The 2026 Formula 1 season is marked by many contrasting dynamics, and some performances go almost unnoticed despite their solidity, like that of Pierre Gasly.
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While all media attention focuses on the impressive emergence of Kimi Antonelli at the top of the championship or on the difficulties of Max Verstappen, the French driver is having a particularly consistent start to the season with Alpine.
Gasly has indeed scored points in the first three Grands Prix, with solid and consistent performances: tenth in Australia, sixth in China, and seventh in Japan.
Better than Verstappen in 2026
This consistency allows him to position himself in the top 10 of the drivers’ standings, notably ahead of Verstappen, which further highlights the quality of his results in a context where Alpine is not a top team. His ability to reach Q3 several times also confirms his competitiveness over a single lap.
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This progress is partly explained by a major technical change for Alpine, which now uses a Mercedes engine. This strategic choice seems to be paying off, with a car – the A526 – that Gasly himself considers one of the best he has driven, comparable to his 2021 reference at AlphaTauri. The gain in performance and reliability allows the team to aim higher in the pecking order, notably in the fight for the midfield.
Notorious discretion
Despite this, his performances remain relatively discreet in the current media landscape. Attention is largely monopolized by the battles at the front between Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren, as well as debates around the new 2026 regulations. In this very busy context, Gasly’s consistency takes a back seat, even though it is a key element in Alpine’s progress.
If this momentum continues, Gasly could establish himself as a major player in the midfield battle, or even assert himself as one of the most performing drivers outside the top teams. The rest of the season will tell if this consistency can turn into even more remarkable results, but one thing is already clear: his start to the year is much stronger than it appears.
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