France

French driver Pierre Gasly has secured his future in Formula 1 by signing a multi-year contract extension with Alpine. This ensures continuity for the team as it bids farewell to Esteban Ocon at the end of the 2024 season. Gasly, currently in his second year with Alpine, will remain with the team for an undisclosed period beyond 2025. He finished the 2023 season P11 in the driver's championship, edging out his teammate Ocon by a mere four points.

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Alpine has endured a rough start to 2024, initially struggling with a car exceeding the weight limit by 10kg. However, their determination to shed weight and improve performance has yielded positive results with two consecutive double-point finishes. Gasly has secured two ninth-place finishes in the last two races, while Ocon secured a P10 in Spain and Montreal. Currently, Gasly leads Ocon by five points to three in the driver standings.

"I feel right at home at Alpine," said Gasly. "Being an integral part of both the F1 project and the wider Alpine vision is something I truly value."

He acknowledged the challenges faced in 2024 but expressed unwavering faith in the project and the team's direction. He highlighted the team's potential and is excited for the future, emphasising his focus on continuous improvement. While Gasly's stay at Alpine was likely, he did attract interest from other teams with vacancies, including Sauber, which is gearing up for its transformation into Audi by 2026.

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However, Ocon's departure might have influenced Gasly's decision. Their relationship has been strained by on-track clashes, culminating in the Monaco incident where Ocon's attempt to overtake Gasly resulted in contact and damage to both cars. This incident, along with Ocon's impending departure, was announced before the Montreal round.

Alpine team principal Bruno Famin expressed his satisfaction with Gasly's contract extension. He praised Gasly's experience and potential, highlighting his value as an ambassador for the Alpine brand.

While acknowledging the significance of securing Gasly, Famin emphasised the team's focus on current performance and achieving their goals for the 2024 season. The team will carefully consider Gasly's future teammate, with options reportedly including a late offer to Carlos Sainz, reserve driver Jack Doohan, and Alpine World Endurance Championship driver Mick Schumacher. Both Doohan and Schumacher recently completed a test with the team's 2022 car at Paul Ricard.