Alpine have announced Pierre Gasly will stay with the team for at least another two seasons after the Frenchman signed a contract extension; watch every session of the Sprint weekend at the Austrian GP live on Sky Sports F1, with Sprint Qualifying on Friday at 3.30pm
Thursday 27 June 2024 12:33, UK
Pierre Gasly has signed a contract extension to stay at Alpine until at least the end of the 2026 F1 season.
Gasly joined Alpine at the start of 2023 and will have a new team-mate next year as Esteban Ocon is leaving the team at the end of the season.
Alpine have not confirmed who will be alongside Gasly, who has signed a "long-term" contract with the team for the 2025 "season and beyond" ahead of this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix - live on Sky Sports F1.
"I feel very much at home at this great team. I enjoy being a real part of both the Formula 1 project and the wider Alpine Cars vision," said Gasly.
"I've been officially here for over 18 months and it has always been the plan to build a long-term project with the team. While on-track it's been a challenging season so far, I remain faithful to the project and I am not going anywhere. I am happy with the changes made, the hard work, and the direction the team is taking.
"There is a lot of potential in this team's personnel and resources. I'm excited for what is to come in the future and right now I'm focusing on the everyday details that we are putting in to improve our performances."
Alpine are currently enduring a difficult 2024 season and sit seventh in the Constructors' Championship on eight points.
The team have been in a period of off-track upheaval over the past 12 months, with a number of senior management changes, and reports earlier this month suggested they may even be considering abandoning their own works engine for F1's new rules in 2026.
However, Ocon and Gasly have finished ninth and 10th at the last two races as the team show continuing signs of improvement.
"When Lewis [Hamilton] announced at the start of the year [he was going to Ferrari] it sort of started and triggered the whole market a lot earlier than what we would have anticipated," said Gasly when speaking to reporters at the Austrian GP.
"There were a lot of talks here and there, obviously always having in mind to talk with Alpine.
"There definitely hasn't been the results so far that I've dreamt of with the team, but I definitely feel that there is a huge potential and there are a lot of positive signs happening inside the team. Not only at the track but also back at the factory.
"I also follow closed the development for 2026 which to me was the most important [thing] for my next contract. Then it was a constant conversation, very open, and the team obviously showed from day one a lot of interest and desire to work with me, which is very important to me to work with people that are pushing hard to get you and want to get you on the project."
Flavio Briatore, the outfit's former title-winning team boss, last week returned to Enstone as executive advisor with his remit including the driver market. Gasly, however, said conversations about extending his Alpine stay had already been long in motion before then.
"The extension of Pierre's contract with the team is very pleasing. He is a driver with huge experience in Formula 1 and continues to show huge amounts of potential on-track," said team principal Bruno Famin.
"For Alpine as a brand, he is a great ambassador and we therefore look forward to continuing our collaboration. While this is important for our future, we do have to keep our eyes close to what is coming and that is focusing on improving our current package.
"We have high ambitions this current season and we will work tirelessly to achieve those things. We will take our time in deciding Pierre's team-mate and we are excited with the options we have on the table."
In recent days, Alpine have been linked with a late move for free agent Carlos Sainz, while reserve Jack Doohan, Sauber pair Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas, and Mercedes' Mick Schumacher, who races for Alpine in the World Endurance Championship, are also thought to be in the running for the second seat.
Alpine have confirmed that Doohan and Schumacher will test their 2022 car at Paul Ricard next week.
"It's something we discussed and from my side I was clear - I just want the fastest guys out there," said Gasly when asked about whether he had a preference for his next team-mate.
"Always want a strong benchmark.
"I have always had strong team-mates in the past, Esteban is strong and hopefully we can replace him with the strongest and fastest driver out there."
Thursday June 27
12.30pm: Drivers' Press Conference
Friday June 28
7.50am: F3 Practice
9am: F2 Practice
11am: Austrian GP Practice One (session starts at 11.30am)
12.55pm: F3 Qualifying
1.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3pm: Austrian GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 3.30pm)*
Saturday June 29
8.25am: F3 Sprint
10am: Austrian GP Sprint (race starts at 11am)*
12.25pm: F2 Sprint
2pm: Austrian GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: Austrian GP Qualifying
5pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook
Sunday June 30
7.25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Austrian GP build-up*
2pm: The AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Austrian GP reaction*
5pm: Ted's Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
F1's triple-header continues at the Austrian Grand Prix this coming week - with the Sprint format returning at the Red Bull Ring. Watch every session live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday's big race at 2pm. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership - No contract, cancel anytime
