Auto. "This is where I want to be in the next few years": Gasly extends with Alpine until 2028

Pierre Gasly says he is "proud" to extend his contract with the Alpine team for three more seasons.

“ I am delighted to be making a long-term commitment to Alpine,” Gasly enthused in a statement. “As a Frenchman, driving for a French car manufacturer makes me extremely proud. Since my arrival in 2023, I have always felt that this team was ideal for my future.”

“The support and confidence of Flavio (Briatore, editor’s note), the commitment of François (Provost, the new CEO of Renault, editor’s note) to the Formula 1 project, as well as the teams at Enstone made this choice obvious. This is where I want to be in the coming years to achieve our common goal: winning races and world titles. We are all united and I look forward to continuing this unique story.”

This agreement "reinforces Alpine's belief that Pierre is the driver who will lead the team into the new regulatory era in 2026 and beyond," the team wrote in the statement released on the sidelines of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

"The contract extension will allow Pierre to spend six seasons with the team," he added, adding that he joined in 2023.

Gasly, who made his F1 debut in 2017 with the Toro Rosso team (which became AlphaTauri and then Racing Bulls), has competed in 168 Grands Prix in total, winning in 2020 at Monza, the first by a French driver in F1 since Olivier Panis in 1996 at Monaco.

While the 29-year-old Norman's presence on the grid next year is assured, that of his teammate Franco Colapinto is not, however, guaranteed, due to his lack of performance.

The Argentinian, who joined the team in January as a reserve driver after competing in nine Grands Prix for Williams in 2024, took over the seat last May from Australian Jack Doohan, who was sidelined due to his poor results.

But after eight GPs contested under the Alpine colours, Colapinto has yet to score any points.

Unable to truly engage in the fray, Alpine currently sits tenth and last in the constructors' standings after 15 of the season's 24 Grands Prix. The team has struggled to return to the front of the field since 2022, when it achieved its ^4th place in the championship at the very end of the season.

On the management side, Steve Nielsen, appointed Alpine F1 CEO in July, took up his new role this weekend. The British engineer will now partially assume the prerogatives of former Alpine boss Oliver Oakes, who left "for personal reasons" last May - and will report to the brand's executive advisor Flavio Briatore.