Pierre Gasly today shows a smile much more often than just a few months ago: when he extended his contract with Alpine until 2028, some had difficulty understanding this choice.
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At the time, the Enstone-based team was going through a particularly difficult period and had just finished the 2025 season in last place in the constructors’ championship.
But the situation has profoundly changed. Alpine is now considered the team with the most progress on the grid and is fighting for fifth place in the championship behind the top teams.
Step back to leap forward
For Gasly, who has experienced a Formula 1 career full of spectacular highs and extremely difficult periods, this rebirth has a special taste.
Last year, he alone scored the team’s 22 points in a very challenging season. Yet, despite the negative image surrounding Alpine externally, Gasly states that internally the reality was very different. According to him, the team had deliberately sacrificed the previous season to focus its resources on the new technical regulations and prepare for the future.
“There was a lot of criticism of the team and our situation last year, for good reasons because we were clearly not performing well,” he explains. “But internally, we knew exactly what we were doing. We accepted to write off the old regulations to focus on these.”
Constantly at the forefront
This strategy is now starting to pay off. Even though he suffered a spectacular accident in Miami after contact with Liam Lawson, Gasly’s season is mainly marked by regained consistency and a car finally capable of meeting his ambitions.
The Frenchman explains that he already perceived positive signs in the factory well before the results appeared on track: “The changes we were implementing in the team were very positive. It was not yet visible in last year’s performance, so people could think we were not progressing. But internally, there were many encouraging signals about the potential we could reach.”
At 30, Gasly has also become the true leader of the Alpine project. A position that seems particularly appreciated by Flavio Briatore, who is not known for handing out compliments easily. For Gasly, this role goes far beyond the simple status of number one driver: he wants to have a direct influence on the technical direction of the team and on the working methods.
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“Naturally, I need to have control. I need to lead my team, to be heard, and for things to work coherently with my group. I don’t like leaving grey areas, so I like to be involved in everything,” he confides.
Joy rediscovered
This responsibility suits him perfectly because it allows him to get the best out of himself. But despite this central role, Gasly keeps an absolute priority, which is to have the fastest possible car: “Fernando is still a team leader at 45,” he recalls referring to Alonso. This role is important to me, but in the end, I mainly want the fastest possible car, and that’s what I expect from Alpine.”
The contrast with last season is immense. Gasly acknowledges that the joy has returned thanks to the team’s progress: “This year is much more enjoyable. Last year, what kept me going was knowing that the potential for 2026 was much more exciting. But you don’t feel the same pleasure when you do a very good lap to finish fifteenth or simply mid-pack without fighting for points.”
Today, Gasly believes that Alpine is gradually closing in on the leading teams. The gap is no longer huge, although a few tenths are still missing to really join the fight at the front.
Champion with Alpine?
“I always want more than what we are currently doing. I want to fight with the best,” he states. “They are not very far, but we are not yet fully in the match. I think we are missing a few tenths, but if we continue to progress with this momentum, it is not impossible to join the cars at the front.”
The ultimate dream remains obviously the world title. And Gasly now thinks it is not unrealistic to imagine Alpine capable of playing this role before the end of his contract.
“That is the goal,” he concludes. “Today, we do not yet have everything it takes to win a world championship. We still need progress in certain areas. But I think we have the necessary tools to fight at the front in the future. And that is very promising for the years to come.”
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