Gasly: I don’t care about being 8th, 9th, or 10th. I want to win

The French driver, who is preparing for his second season with Alpine, acknowledged the challenges ahead in 2024 but stressed the importance of maximising the team’s potential under the upcoming regulation changes.

Gasly told reporters ahead of the F1 75 LIVE event in London today, "If it was down to me, all of the budget would go on 2026. I’m not in control of the budget—maybe that’s good or bad, I don’t know. But I don’t care about being eighth, ninth, or 10th. I want to win, I want to finish on the podium.

"I know it’s not going to be easy to make it up this year, but I know in 2026 we’re starting with the same weapons as any other team, and it’s up to us to deliver the best car possible."

While Alpine remains committed to its 2025 campaign, Gasly admitted that the bigger opportunity lies in the forthcoming regulation reset: "It doesn’t change as a driver—every single time you get in the car, I want to be the fastest I can with the package I’ve got, so that doesn’t really change the mindset for 2025. But bigger picture, I know there is a lot more to gain in 2026."

Gasly continued: "We’ve got to be smart in the way we do things. The good thing is the fact that it’s already decided what to do for this year. The upgrades are pretty much all decided, so we’ve got a clear plan and just have to trust in our tools."

Alpine endured a difficult 2023 season, finishing sixth in the constructors' standings with just 120 points. The team is undergoing structural changes under new leadership, with a strong emphasis on positioning itself as a contender under the next-generation F1 regulations.

Gasly has participated in 154 Grands Prix, securing 436 points, five podium finishes, and one race victory. He made his debut in Formula 1 with Toro Rosso in 2017. In 2019, after a brief tenure with Red Bull Racing, he returned to Toro Rosso and achieved his first podium, finishing second at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The pinnacle of his career came in 2020 when he clinched his maiden victory at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, driving for AlphaTauri. In 2023, Gasly moved to Alpine, where he continued to demonstrate consistent performances, including a notable podium finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2024.