Pierre Gasly is optimistic about the 2025 Formula One season, but major successes are not yet in sight – the Alpine driver is counting on the rule changes in 2026
In 2024, Alpine finished the season in sixth place with two podiums and another top-5 finish, falling short of its own expectations. For the new season, Pierre Gasly expects progress, if not miracles.
“I can say that I am coming to Bahrain this year much more confident than last year,” he says, looking ahead to next week’s pre-season test.
“Last year we knew it was going to be very difficult. We wanted to be optimistic and hope that maybe it would be different, but reality caught up with us. This year, I think we’ve made progress with the car. I’m quite confident,” the Alpine driver notes.
Fifth place in the world championship is the goal
The goal is to carry the momentum from the last five races of the 2024 season into 2025: “I think that we as a team did very well last season. We managed to finish sixth in the world championship despite a very difficult start. I hope we can fight for fifth place.”
At the same time, Gasly admits that the four top teams have a clear lead and that a direct fight with them is unrealistic. The focus is therefore not only on the placings in 2025, but also on long-term development.
“Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if we are fighting for eighth, ninth or tenth place. I would say it’s not that important,” says the Frenchman. ‘For me personally and for the team, the most important thing is to strengthen our foundations to ensure that we understand our car and our tools to get the most out of the new regulations from 2026. I see this as one of our big opportunities.’
Gasly sees chance of victory for Alpine only in 2026
Then Gasly wants to take the next step with Alpine and be in contention for podiums and race wins. “I know it won’t be easy to achieve that this year. But in 2026, we will start with the same weapons as all the other teams, and it is up to us to deliver the best possible car.”
He views this season as a year of building: ‘There is much more for us to win in 2026 than we can fight for in 2025, and so we need to proceed wisely.’
Personally, Gasly’s goal is to get the maximum out of the existing material. “I’m a competitor. If I could win 24 races, I would,” he explains. But it’s important to adapt to the circumstances.
Improvements to the car, but no revolution
“I hope we can fight for the top 10 and score points regularly, as we did towards the end of last season. We need to keep up this momentum.” Gasly is optimistic that the major weakness of last year’s car has been addressed in its successor.
“But it’s not a revolution,” he emphasizes. ”We changed what we knew was holding us back. I think we’ve developed and improved performance in various areas. But the core of the car is still quite similar. I’m happy with what I’ve seen.”
As such, the Alpine driver hopes to fare well compared to the other teams, even if he expects a particularly close Formula One season in 2025. “I hope the field is very close,” he says. “I want us to be the best of the midfielders, occasionally challenging the Top Four, like I did at the end of last year. I really hope that will be possible.”
