Gasly: Alpine should ditch 2025, go all-in on 2026

Pierre Gasly says that if he held the reins of Alpine he would sacrifice the 2025 Formula 1 season and channel all of the team’s resources into its 2026 next-generation car.

The Frenchman issued the bold call as major regulatory changes loom in 2026 – including an overhaul of F1’s technical rules and a power unit refresh.

Gasly believes that rather than stretching resources on a 2025 campaign that simply won’t bridge the performance gap, the team should focus all of its attention and capital on preparing for next year’s dramatic reset.

Budget and Future Priorities

Speaking to the media earlier this week at F1 75 Live in London, the one-time Grand Prix winner candidly laid out his vision for the team’s future.

"If it was down to me, all the budget would be on 2026, but I am not in control of the budget," Gasly said.

"If that is good or bad, I don't know but I don't care being eighth, ninth or 10th, I want to win, I want to finish on the podium and I know it is not going to be easy to make [the gap] up this year.

"But I know in 2026, we're starting with the same weapons as other teams and it is up to us to deliver the best car possible.

"It doesn't change as a driver, every single time you get in the car, I want the fastest package I can get, so it doesn't change the mindset for 2025, but bigger picture, I know there is a lot more to gain in '26 than I'll be able to fight for in '25.

"That is why we've got to be smart in the way we do things. The good thing is that the budget is already decided for this year, the upgrades are pretty much all decided as well so we've got a clear plan, and we've just got to trust in our tools and make sure we make the right decisions for our future."

Gasly’s remarks underline his conviction that Alpine’s long-term success hinges on a strategic pivot –sacrificing short-term gains to secure a competitive edge when the rules reset in 2026.

Embracing Stability and Team Evolution

Alpine has undergone extensive changes since the veritable implosion of its upper management over the summer of 2023.

Flavio Briatore returned to Enstone in June of last year Executive Advisor at the behest of Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo, while Oliver Oakes was entrusted with running the team’s management.

Gasly acknowledged these significant internal changes, noting a new sense of stability and optimism within the squad.

"I think having a bit of stability, I definitely don’t mind it because since I arrived it’s been a bit rocky and unstable," he said.

"I’m very pleased since Oli and Flav joined the team. You can clearly see the mindset and the spirit of the team is heading in the right direction.

“I think the processes in all departments are really being challenged and delivering the best they can and that’s what we’re doing.

“I think as a team, we showed last year we started extremely bad, looking at the performance in the first few races, but we still managed to turn things around in a way which was very impressive.

“Since my first season in F1, I’ve never seen such an evolution throughout the whole year."

Looking ahead, Gasly reiterated the team's ambition and his confidence in the leadership.

"There’s still a long way to go, but Flavio is a competitor,” he admitted.

“He’s in F1 to win. I’m in F1 to win. Oli is in F1 to bring the team to the top and also to win. It’s going to take the time we need, but definitely as a team I can see a lot of positivity and tell we’re going in the right way.”

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