Pierre Gasly signs a fresh deal to stay with Alpine Racing until F1 2028, as Monaco and Daniel Ricciardo announce separate deals.
After his move from Visa Cash App RB to Alpine in 2023, Gasly has been the key figure within the French outfit, while others around him have come and gone. It is not just limited to the drivers, but even key personnel have lost their jobs under multiple re-jigs within the team.
The latest was Oliver Oakes leaving his role and the arrival of the likes of Flavio Briatore and Steve Nielsen. On the driver front, he saw Esteban Ocon leave last year and Jack Doohan being replaced by Franco Colapinto in the ongoing F1 2025 season.
Amid all of this, Gasly has decided to ink a fresh deal that runs until the end of 2028 F1 season after securing backing from Briatore and Renault Group CEO Francois Provost. He is eyeing success under new regulations, when Alpine join hands with Mercedes from 2026 onward.
“I’m thrilled to commit my long-term future to Alpine,” said Gasly. “As a Frenchman, especially, driving for a French car company, makes me feel very proud. Since I joined in 2023, I have always felt that this team is the right place to be for the future.
“Flavio’s [Briatore] support and belief in me, François’ [Provost] commitment to the Formula One project, as well as the people we have in Enstone made this a natural decision and I want to be here in years to come and deliver on our joint objective: to win races and world championships. We’re all in this together and I look forward to continuing this special story.”
Briatore added: “Since I returned to the team, I have always stated how important it is to build and grow the competitiveness of BWT Alpine Formula One Team. We’re well prepared for the new era of Formula One, beginning in 2026, and now we have our lead driver confirmed to bring us well into the future. Pierre has been an immense asset for the team during this challenging period. I have been very impressed with his attitude, dedication and talent and we look forward to continuing this project together for a long time.”
Monaco GP (as per press release) –
Formula 1 has today announced an extension of the Monaco Grand Prix until 2035, inclusive, building on the existing agreement with the Automobile Club of Monaco that runs through the 2031 season. The Monaco Grand Prix, which is one of the sport’s most enduring races, having featured on the World Championship calendar in Formula 1’s inaugural year in 1950, has given the sport iconic memories and incredible triumphs and heartbreak.
Since those early days, the Circuit de Monaco has demanded the ultimate skill and concentration from the drivers and combined with its glamour and unique setting, the race in Monte Carlo is recognised as one of the most famous sporting events in the world. In 2024, hometown hero Charles Leclerc created history when he became the first Monegasque in Formula 1 history to win the Grand Prix and this year, Lando Norris secured his first ever win in the Principality. From the rest of the current line-up of drivers, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, and Max Verstappen have all won multiple times on the streets of Monaco too. They join legends including Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda, Sir Jackie Stewart and Graham Hill who have all triumphed around the 3.3km circuit.
The Paddock and F1 Paddock Club have both seen significant investment to provide an extensive range of packages for fans to enjoy the glamour of the race in comfort and in a first this year, Formula 1’s Global Partner, MSC Cruises’ EXPLORA II ship, was docked in the heart of Port Hercule, offering guests a prime spot by the Paddock throughout race week and a series of events around the race.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO at Formula 1, said: “The streets of Monaco have been echoing with the sound of Formula 1 since the earliest days of the sport, so I’m delighted to announce the extension of this fantastic event to 2035. It is an iconic race that is loved by all drivers and fans, with a unique vibe thanks to its location on the world’s most glamorous Principality. I would like to say a special thank you to His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Michel Boeri, President of the Automobile Club of Monaco and everyone involved in securing the long-term future of this historic partnership.”
His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II of Monaco, said: “The renewal of the Monaco Grand Prix until 2035 is in keeping with a sporting and historical tradition to which the Principality remains deeply attached. I can only welcome this renewed commitment, which is testament to our collective success, the excellence of our collaboration with Formula 1, and the unique place that Monaco occupies in the international motorsport landscape.”
Michel Boeri, President of the Automobile Club of Monaco, said: “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco for his unwavering support, as well as to Stefano Domenicali for his continued trust. The Automobile Club de Monaco is delighted with this four-year extension, which reflects the strong and enduring relationship between Formula 1 and the Principality of Monaco. This agreement reaffirms, more than ever, our commitment to delivering an exceptional, unmatched, and world-renowned race weekend to the passionate fans who travel from all over the globe to attend the Monaco Grand Prix, first held in 1929. I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding work of the F1 community and all the volunteers, as well as that of the Monegasque institutions, whose involvement is essential to the success of this extraordinary event.”
Daniel Ricciardo (as per press release) –
To all the Ford team members around the world, hey! I hope you’ve all had a great summer (or winter for us Aussies) and are excited for the rest of 2025. I wanted to write you all a quick note to coincide with some exciting news. While my racing days are behind me, my love for anything with wheels will always remain high, and for that I am proud to be partnering with Ford to become a Global Ford Racing Ambassador. I am going to be working closely with the Ford Racing team and specifically focus on the amazing Raptor brand and lifestyle that Raptor has become for many of Ford’s customers.
So why now, and why me? When I decided it was time to retire, I thought long and hard about finding the most authentic way to stay connected to the world of motorsports. For me, racing was always about having fun. It made me happy and created memories that will last a lifetime. I was thinking back to my core memories with Ford. First, when I purchased a Raptor back in 2017 before I even owned a home in the US. Priorities, am I right? Then, shortly after Ford announced it was partnering with Oracle Red Bull Racing, I came over to Dearborn and met senior leaders like Jim Farley (we had a ton of fun and a lot of laughs) but also had the chance to peek behind the curtain and see what was happening within your design department. Damn impressive.
I then visited the team in Cologne later that summer and had a great time meeting employees, watching a live crash test, and answering questions in a Town Hall. Throughout all these occasions, Ford and its employees’ passion for motorsports was very apparent. But what excites me most is how you all continue to find ways of having fun while innovating. Ford has built a proper business around motorsport and is using it to bring new technologies to your road cars. And nothing brings that to life better than the beloved Raptor. Taking my bias for “American-made” and deep love for trucks out of the equation, Raptor is becoming a global powerhouse. I’m one of thousands of happy customers.
Some of my favourite memories are road tripping behind the wheel of my Raptor, and I can’t wait to add to my existing Raptor ownership, plus meet the customers who are equally passionate about their vehicles. I couldn’t be more excited for all the amazing drives ahead with Ford and for all the incredible projects Ford Racing has in its pipeline. From F1 to Dakar and from Le Mans to Bathurst, few companies have been at this for as long as you guys have. From what I have seen, we have an incredible future ahead, and I am so proud to be joining the team. So, here’s to the fun, the laughs, and the memories that lie ahead.
Other news –
Colton Herta is named Cadillac F1 test driver, leaves IndyCar: https://www.cadillacf1team.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Cadillac-F1-Test-Driver-Announcement-Press-Release.pdf