Gasly ‘fully believes’ Alpine can give him a car to fight at the front from 2026 after signing new deal

Pierre Gasly has said that his new contract extension with Alpine until the end of the 2028 campaign is because "I fully believe" that the Formula 1 team will allow him to fight at the front of the grid.

The announcement that the Frenchman would remain with Alpine for another three seasons came on Saturday during the Italian Grand Prix weekend, and means the partnership will extend to at least six years in total.

Gasly joined Alpine in 2023 and over nearly three seasons he has achieved a best result of third on two occasions, during the Dutch Grand Prix in 2023 and Sao Paulo Grand Prix last season.

"I'm very happy to commit to the project," said Gasly, with the announcement coming five years to the day since his sole F1 victory at Monza. "We're going through a very tricky season but we know the reasons why and I actually fully believe in the team and the people we've got.

"From next year onwards we will be in a much better place. When I signed with Alpine, [it] was for me always about winning with a French team. That's not what I achieved in these first three seasons and I'm eager to get it done for the next three coming."

This season has been a difficult one for Gasly and Alpine, with the team sitting firmly at the bottom of the Constructors' Championship and Gasly achieving only four points finishes, which includes a best result of sixth in a rain-interrupted British Grand Prix.

However, with new chassis and power unit regulations coming in for 2026, the team has publicly admitted to focusing on the new ruleset and Gasly believes they will hit the ground running with help from new engine supplier Mercedes.

"I know it's difficult for people to understand [staying at Alpine] because when you see the performance right now, we're struggling but as I say, we get to the bottom of these reasons, we know why," added Gasly.

"We know the strategic reasons we've made this year, which are costly for the performance of this year, but I think from next year onwards, I fully believe the team will be able to give me a car to compete at the front and actually achieve what I came in the team for.

"The situation we are in [now] actually gives us some advantages next year in terms of wind tunnel etc. I think we should be in a good place. A lot of reasons to believe that the team will be able to give me the car that I want."