Pierre Gasly from the Alpine F1 team qualifies for the starting grid at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Canada, on June 9, 2024, during the Formula 1 World Championship, Round 9, Race Day.
Gasly stated that he has not set a specific deadline to make a decision about his future in Formula 1 with Alpine, despite his teammate Esteban Ocon’s imminent departure. Earlier this month, Alpine announced that Ocon will not renew his contract with the team and will leave at the end of the season. While there is speculation about who will replace Ocon in 2025, Gasly’s own contract is also about to expire.
When asked if Ocon’s departure would affect his plans, Gasly replied, “To be honest, it will have no impact. Currently, my position is quite clear. As for my future, I have nothing to announce at the moment. You will find out in due time.”
Although it is widely expected that Gasly will reach an agreement with the Anglo-French team for an extension, he emphasized that he is not in a hurry to make a decision. “I don’t have a specific deadline,” he said. “The market is open at the moment, and everyone is aware of the available opportunities. So, no, I don’t want to provide too many details right now. We are in discussions, and everything is going well.”
The relationship between Gasly and Ocon, which dates back to their karting days, has been tumultuous and well-documented. However, Gasly insists that they have been working together effectively since last season, despite occasional clashes like the incident in Monaco this month. “It’s a long story between Esteban and me,” he admitted. “But in the past year and a half, we have managed to work and cooperate professionally. It hasn’t always been easy, considering we are highly competitive drivers. But considering our history, I would say it has been good. So, I will stick to that.”
Ocon is currently engaged in active discussions with Haas regarding a possible move, while Alpine’s reserve driver, Jack Doohan, is the leading candidate to fill the vacancy left by the Frenchman. Other options under consideration include Sauber’s two drivers, Valtteri Bottas, Guanyu Zhou, and Mick Schumacher, who currently races with Alpine in the World Endurance Championship.
