Why Gasly isn't all doom and gloom despite Alpine downturn in F1 2025

Pierre Gasly reckons Alpine has “all the ingredients” to be successful in Formula 1 despite the Enstone team being on course for its worst-ever finishing position.

Alpine is last in the 2025 constructors’ standings with six rounds remaining, as no upgrades since June’s Spanish Grand Prix, plus updates not working as intended, have caused it to regress.

The worst result for a team from Enstone, which has had an F1 base since 1992, was ninth for Renault in 2016, while Alpine has not finished lower than sixth after taking over in 2021.

But Alpine is implementing widespread changes as it will ditch its in-house engine programme to become a Mercedes customer next year, while Steve Nielsen has joined as managing director.

It is the recent appointment of the paddock veteran plus the likes of Flavio Briatore steering the ship that leaves Gasly confident Alpine, a team he joined in 2023, is heading in the right direction.

“If you look at the people we have in this team, for me we have all the ingredients to be a successful team,” said Gasly, who this year signed a contract extension until 2028.

“Steve is great, but at all levels I think we've got very smart people with a lot of experience, with a successful time in F1 and that's why I have a lot of optimism for next season.

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

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“It's not nice to be sitting in that chair every weekend and telling you the same story over and over again, but unfortunately it's not going to change suddenly.

“We've just got to stick at it, low profile, do the work we've got to do on ourselves. Hopefully in a few months' time we're talking about different expectations going into the weekends.”

The Frenchman has been particularly impressed by how the team has reacted to 2025, which should serve Alpine well when F1 introduces its regulation changes next year.

“I have high expectations,” said the 2020 Italian GP winner of next year. “They know it. I think I'm very optimistic for the right reasons.

“The people we have, I have a lot of belief in all the changes we are making. It's quite a big change for us, also switching PU manufacturer.

“All the processes we are changing, the people we have at the factory, the new people coming in. It's just something that seems to come together.

“The position we are in today gives us an advantage in terms of internal time for next year.

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

“On paper, when you look at the situation we are in, we are in an advantageous position against our rivals. I do believe the team can make the best of it from all the decisions we've made earlier in the season.”

It is why Gasly is remaining calm about the season Alpine is enduring, because “there’s no point in building up that frustration, which is not going to change until the end of the year”.

“So you just try to find small wins when it matters,” added Gasly, who is 16th in the drivers’ standings. “I'm just very realistic about the situation we are in.

“I think I have a fair few months to be in the right place about it and just be focusing on the stuff I can control and trying to deliver the best of myself for the team, and same the other way.

“So I think for me the main focus is to make sure that these last six races, the standards at which we work are as high as they need to be for us to get ready for next year.”