Pierre Gasly is tight-lipped about his F1 future amid volatile driver market, as he adds on the steps Alpine has been taking.
Amid stories of drivers being confirmed in long-term deals, Alpine has remain quite for now where both Gasly and Esteban Ocon are not yet firm beyond the 2024 F1 season. They are the best options in the rebuilding phase but they do have reserves to sign as well.
It is a waiting game but for how long they continue, it remains to be seen. There might be options for both Gasly and Ocon outside Alpine but the competition is strong for the seats at Red Bull, Mercedes, Sauber/Audi, Williams and even Haas.
For now, Gasly has been tight-lipped about his discussions despite being asked about it in several ways that he can be asked. The Frenchman didn’t wish to give anything away, not even a yes or no to state if he is discussing with anyone out there.
Nico signed for Audi. Does that change anything for you?
Gasly: “Doesn’t change my plan. No, it doesn’t change anything. And it’s all… on my side, it’s all looked after. I think you guys are aware of the driver market situation. For now, I don’t have anything to announce.”
Your priority to stay with Alpine now, would you say?
Gasly: “I won’t expand too much on that. I’ll say more when there’ll be something to announce. Now just no comment.”
Do you have a personal deadline?
Gasly: “No comment.”
Do you have one?
Gasly: “Take whatever you want from my answer, but I won’t to expand on the contract situation.”
But in general expect things to get solved quicker than previous seasons? Nico and Lewis already announced new contracts which is unusual.
Gasly: “I won’t make any comments on this. It’s looked after, as I say it, and you guys know the situations.”
It is not often for a F1 driver to turn down questions about any contract talks, but for Gasly it is a tricky situation. He moved to Alpine from Visa Cash App RB in the quest to race for a factory outfit and fight for race wins and or podiums at least.
But as of now, Alpine has found itself on the backfoot and are once again in a rebuilding phase. They have had many leaving the team but few new signings, which includes David Sanchez, who comes in after a short stint with McLaren and long one with Ferrari.
It is a good signing as per Gasly, who also has one eye on the engine programme of Renault for 2026 and beyond. “There are a couple of good signings for the team,” he said. “The big picture is we know that car is not well born. And it does happen that some years you get it right. And some years you just get it wrong.
“I think the most important is how we are able to react from it. So I’m aware that it does take some time. Can’t expect like a massive change, you know, in a very short space of time, but I feel like we’ve got enough data now to really spot what’s working and what’s not. And then it’s a matter of how we tackle it, because you’re almost in May…
“Obviously looking at this current season and what’s achievable, what’s possible for next year, and at the same time ’26 as well, which is going to require a lot of work and a complete new car. So it’s, there are quite a lot to consider. But I can see all the processes that goes at the factory.
“And at the end of the day, I’m aware it’s going to take time, but it’s important we do react and not stay with what we got at the minute, which is not competitive enough. As for the updates on its engine porgramme, that would be silly not to. It’s obviously something that is very important, especially, at the minute looking at the future and making sure that I am in a position to be in a competitive car.
“I see the progress. It doesn’t take any focus that I have right now, which is to make the best out of what we’ve got today. But it’s obviously something I’m looking from a close eye at the factory,” summed up Gasly.
Here’s Pierre Gasly on updates in Miami
Here’s Esteban Ocon on tussle with Fernando Alonso
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