Pierre Gasly at Alpine

Pierre Gasly's arrival at Alpine in 2023 marked a significant chapter for both driver and team, positioning him as a seasoned anchor tasked with guiding a French outfit through a period of structural change and performance recalibration.

How it began

After years within the Red Bull driver programme, culminating in a Grand Prix victory with AlphaTauri, Gasly sought a new challenge and a fresh start outside the confines of the Red Bull family. His move to Alpine created an all-French driver lineup alongside Esteban Ocon, a narrative point that generated considerable interest. Alpine, a factory team with ambitions to challenge the sport's frontrunners, brought Gasly in as a known quantity – a proven race winner and a driver capable of consistent points finishes. The team was undergoing a strategic rebuild under new ownership and management, and Gasly's experience was seen as instrumental in providing critical feedback for car development and helping to steer the team's technical direction.

The partnership's character

Gasly's partnership with Alpine has been defined by the team's fluctuating fortunes and the challenging characteristics of its machinery. The 2023 A523 car, while capable of occasional strong performances, often struggled with consistency and outright pace, particularly in qualifying. Gasly's adaptability and technical prowess were frequently on display as he worked to extract the maximum from the package, often outperforming his teammate in qualifying sessions. The dynamic within the team, including several high-profile management changes throughout 2023, added another layer of complexity. The start of the 2024 season with the A524 proved even more challenging, with the car often finding itself at the very back of the grid, a stark contrast to the dominant runs seen by partnerships like Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes (2013–2024) in their prime.

Key chapter in the season

Gasly's debut 2023 season with Alpine saw moments of genuine brilliance amidst the team's broader struggles. A standout performance came at the Spa-Francorchamps Sprint Race, where he secured a commendable third place. This was followed by a superb drive at the Dutch Grand Prix, where he finished third after a penalty for Sergio Pérez, marking his first Grand Prix podium with the team. These results underscored his ability to seize opportunities when the car provided a window of performance. However, the early stages of the 2024 season have presented a much tougher picture, with the A524 consistently lacking pace, often leaving both Gasly and Ocon battling outside the points. This period has tested Gasly's resilience, echoing the frustrations some drivers, like , have faced when a top-tier talent finds themselves in a car unable to match their ambition.