Pierre Gasly has signed a contract extension to stay with the Alpine Components 1 staff on a multi-year foundation.
The Frenchman’s signing for one more season ensures that Alpine retains continuity into 2025, because it introduced beforehand that it was parting methods with Esteban Ocon on the finish of the present season.
Gasly is at the moment in his second season with the French squad, and completed eleventh within the drivers’ championship in 2023 – 4 factors forward of Ocon as the 2 had been intently matched.
Alpine has endured a troublesome begin to 2024 after getting into the 12 months with a automobile that was stated to be round 10kg chubby, though regular enhancements and efforts to scale back weight have led to an uptick within the staff’s performances.
This has led to a pair of double-points finishes within the final two races – Gasly has completed ninth in each, with Ocon tenth at Montreal and Spain. Gasly at the moment leads his fellow Normandy-born stable-mate by 5 factors to a few within the standings.
“I really feel very a lot at house at this nice staff. I take pleasure in being an actual a part of each the Components 1 venture and the broader Alpine Vehicles imaginative and prescient,” Gasly stated.
“I’ve been formally right here for over 18 months and it has at all times been the plan to construct a long-term venture with the staff. Whereas on observe it’s been a difficult season to date, I stay trustworthy to the venture and I’m not going wherever.
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
“I’m pleased with the adjustments made, the laborious work, and the course the staff is taking. There’s a variety of potential on this staff’s personnel and sources.
“I’m excited for what’s to come back sooner or later and proper now I’m specializing in the on a regular basis particulars that we’re placing in to enhance our performances.”
Though Gasly was at all times more likely to keep at Alpine, he had courted curiosity from different groups on the grid with a vacant seat – Sauber was believed to be a possible vacation spot because it prepares for its metamorphosis into Audi for 2026.
Nevertheless, the departure of Ocon had maybe satisfied Gasly to remain because the duo’s relationship remained fractious by plenty of on-track clashes between the pair.
This got here to a head at Monaco, when Ocon tried to barge previous his team-mate at Portier and made contact – sustaining harm to place himself out and put Gasly in danger. This earned the ire of staff principal Bruno Famin, and Ocon’s impending departure from the staff was introduced within the wake of their conflict forward of the Montreal spherical.
“The extension of Pierre’s contract with the staff may be very pleasing,” stated Famin.
“He’s a driver with enormous expertise in Components 1 and continues to point out enormous quantities of potential on-track. For Alpine as a model, he is a superb ambassador and we subsequently sit up for persevering with our collaboration.
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“Whereas that is necessary for our future, we do need to preserve our eyes shut to what’s coming and that’s specializing in enhancing our present package deal. We now have excessive ambitions this present season and we are going to work tirelessly to realize these issues.
“We’ll take our time in deciding Pierre’s team-mate and we’re excited with the choices we’ve on the desk.”
It’s at the moment unknown who will companion Gasly on the staff, though it’s understood that the staff has made a late supply to tempt Carlos Sainz again to the Enstone staff.
Reserve driver Jack Doohan and Alpine WEC driver Mick Schumacher are additionally believed to be within the working for a drive, with the 2 endeavor a take a look at at Paul Ricard with the staff’s 2022 equipment.