Alpine have now made their decision on a new contract for Pierre Gasly after opting to drop Esteban Ocon following the 2024 season when his terms with the team expire.
The Renault-owned squad are one of only two Formula 1 teams alongside Haas still to name either of their drivers for next season. Both, Gasly and Ocon, are only under contract for the Enstone outfit through 2024, and Alpine have already announced that the latter will depart.
Alpine announced that Ocon will leave at the end of his contract after crashing into Gasly in the Monaco GP. Groupe Renault CEO Luca de Meo has also now brought Flavio Briatore into Enstone as an executive adviser to Alpine with part of his role including finding driver talent.
Alpine to announce Pierre Gasly’s new contract at the Austrian GP
Given his contract expires at the end of this year, Gasly has also considered his options away from Alpine. The 28-year-old is a Grand Prix winner after standing atop the podium – for the first and only time yet – at the 2020 Italian GP. He has also scored 399 points in 140 entries.
But Speedcafe is now reporting that Alpine will confirm that Gasly has signed a new contract at the Austrian GP. The Enstone team are set to announce the Frenchman has committed his future for at least the 2025 season on Friday. It is unclear if he will only sign a one-year deal.
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Gasly is currently still on the initial contract he signed to join Alpine from the 2023 season to leave the Red Bull family. Team chiefs opted to sign the Rouen native when Fernando Alonso quit for Aston Martin. Gasly has since led Ocon in points in their two seasons as teammates.
Pierre Gasly was hesitant to sign after receiving interest from Audi
Alpine saw Gasly score 62 points in his first year with the team and pick up five in 10 rounds so far this term. Ocon finished 2023 with 58 points and currently has three this season after back-to-back P10 results at the Canadian GP and Spanish GP, where Gasly sealed two P9s.
But as Gasly only scored his first point of 2024 in the Monaco GP, the former Red Bull driver Max Verstappen calls ‘incredibly talented’ has considered his options. F1-Insider even noted that Gasly was reluctant to sign a new contract with Alpine amid Audi also showing interest.
Yet this week’s Austrian GP could now see Gasly fill another spot on the 2025 grid by signing a new contract with Alpine. It leaves Audi to try elsewhere for Nico Hulkenberg’s teammate at Sauber ahead of the automotive giants taking the team over in 2026 as its factory squad.
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