Sunday’s race in Spain was expected to give Formula 1 fans the best indication yet of the true pecking order between all 10 teams.
That might worry those at Williams and Visa Cash App RB who had weekends to forget, especially after the Red Bull sister team delivered their most important update of the season to the track in Barcelona.
Ferrari also brought a big update to the Spanish Grand Prix but will be disappointed that it only delivered a 5 and 6-place finish after a clash between their two drivers.
Covering the Spanish Grand Prix for The Race, journalist Josh Suttill wondered if the events that unfolded on Sunday might have an impact on the driver’s market.
There are very few drivers left on the grid who are in complete control of their destiny for 2025 and haven’t already signed new contracts.
However, one of those is expected to be Alpine star Pierre Gasly who the team are reportedly keen on retaining for next year after deciding to part ways with Esteban Ocon.
Suttill has suggested that the surprising upturn in form for the French team in Barcelona might convince him that staying where he is as opposed to heading elsewhere is the best decision going forward.
READ MORE: Alpine driver Pierre Gasly’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Spanish Grand Prix could convince Pierre Gasly to stay at Alpine
Writing about the race, Suttill said: “This isn’t the sort of weekend that’s going to make [Pierre] Gasly think he’s onto a championship winner with Alpine. The team is very, very far from that.
“But it might just be the kind of weekend (added with recent signs of progress) that would persuade him to stay over pursuing a place in any other team he can get a seat at like Haas – something that appeared a potential prospect not that long ago.
“Alpine’s solidly best of the rest and exactly where Aston should be at a minimum. As Aston Martin driver Alonso said on Saturday: “They’re getting better and we’re getting worse.”
Pierre Gasly had a slow start to the season in an even slower car but appears to be turning that form around.
He’s finished ahead of his teammate in the past two races, although Ocon was told to let his fellow countryman through towards the end of the Canadian Grand Prix.
Unsurprisingly he’s on the radar of at least one other team on the grid as he nears the end of his current deal.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage
Which F1 team will Pierre Gasly be driving for in 2025?
Alpine may have been slightly surprised to have ended up with a double points finish in Spain especially as several of their rivals were expected to take steps forward last weekend.
Ocon confirming he’s moving on in 2025 means retaining Gasly makes a lot of sense for Alpine.
He knows the team well, is seriously talented and would be well suited to either look after a young driver such as Jack Doohan entering the sport or providing a challenge to a more experienced racer such as Carlos Sainz.
However, Audi have Gasly on their shortlist of potential drivers for next year, although the current Sauber team are nowhere near the level of Alpine at the moment.
Gasly is said to be considering whether to stay at Alpine or potentially move to Audi which is making him hesitant about accepting a contract offer.
It all depends on his mindset and if he believes that Audi are the best long-term project for him then it would make sense for him to move on this year and join Nico Hulkenberg.
If he believes that the progress Alpine have made in recent weeks is indicative of their progress over the next few seasons, then staying put is his best option.
The Frenchman – who has 399 career F1 points – is potentially in a very privileged position of having a choice for his next move.
The post ‘Persuade him to stay’: Journalist suggests Spanish GP might convince 399-point driver to sign a new contract appeared first on F1 Oversteer.