F1 fans all tell Alpine the same driver to sign next after confirming Pierre Gasly’s new contract

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Pierre Gasly has now committed his future to Alpine, with the Frenchman agreeing to sign a new contract for the Enstone team through at least the 2028 Formula 1 season.

The 29-year-old is currently enjoying his third season with the Renault-owned crew, and was already set to stay at Alpine through 2026. But Alpine announced on Saturday at Monza that Gasly has now put pen to paper on a deal and will guide the team into F1’s 2026 regulations.

Alpine first welcomed Gasly to Enstone in 2023, as they established an all-French driver line-up at the time with Esteban Ocon. The Rouen native also took charge as their team leader in 2025 alongside Jack Doohan as Ocon joined Haas, before Franco Colapinto joined this May.

Gasly has even given Alpine their only source of points in the 2025 F1 season, with the one-time Grand Prix winner securing all 20 of the team’s haul. Alpine sit last in the constructors’ championship and Gasly ranks 14th in the drivers’ standings ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.

F1 fans beg Alpine to sign Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda as Pierre Gasly’s 2026 teammate

Gasly’s new contract now comes as a reward for his results, with the Frenchman and Alpine keen to lock down his long-term future. But Alpine executive adviser Flavio Briatore still has a decision to make on his 2026 teammate, with Colapinto out of contract at the end of 2025.

READ MORE: Alpine driver Pierre Gasly’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Briatore benched Doohan for Colapinto ahead of May’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola as he wanted to identify Gasly’s teammate for next year. But Briatore “overestimated” what Colapinto could produce, so Alpine have also studied other potential options in the market.

One option on Alpine’s potential shortlist is Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda who, like Colapinto, has an uncertain future. The 25-year-old is likewise out of contract at the end of the season. So, many F1 fans would love to see Alpine build on Gasly’s new contract by signing Tsunoda.

One fan replied to Alpine’s X post confirming Gasly’s contract through 2028, stating: “Please sign Yuki for next year if Red Bull boots him.” Another fan also replied with, “Now sign Yuki!” and one fan even claimed: “OK, now give Pierre his re-signing bonus (Yuki as a teammate)”.

Another fan even took Gasly claiming that “the future looks bright” in his X post announcing his new contract as a hint towards Tsunoda replacing Colapinto at Alpine for the 2026 term. They claimed, “Nice of Pierre to leak Yuki’s arrival at the team,” in what would be a reunion.

Gasly and Tsunoda were teammates for AlphaTauri in the latter’s first two seasons on the F1 grid in 2021 and ‘22. The French and Japanese stars also built a close bond during their time together. So, a fan said: “Let’s just pretend he said he’ll only sign if he could have Yuki back.”

Along with wanting Alpine to replace Colapinto with Red Bull star Tsunoda in 2026, another fan also saw Gasly’s new contract as a nod towards their move to Mercedes engines. Alpine will become a Mercedes engine customer after Renault closed their works F1 engine factory.

One fan said on X: “That Mercedes PU must be doing wonders for Pierre to sign a long-term contract. Next step, get Yuki now!!! That Ford engine screams meh at this point.”

Alpine are considering Yuki Tsunoda as a replacement for Franco Colapinto

The Renault Group rebranded the Enstone-based Formula 1 team from Renault to Alpine for the 2021 campaign to promote the French sports car company. But Alpine’s Renault engine costs Gasly and Colapinto around 0.4s a lap at some circuits due to its energy management.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents

So, Renault opted to refocus the Viry-Chatillon factory, and Briatore agreed a deal for Alpine to buy Mercedes power units from the start of F1’s 2026 engine regulations. Mercedes are widely expected to have the best 2026 F1 rules engine, as well, which could prove decisive.

Red Bull are also changing engines next year, as Honda will leave the Milton Keynes team to join Aston Martin. Honda’s exit tempted Christian Horner to establish Red Bull Powertrains, in partnership with Ford, before Red Bull GmbH sacked him as Red Bull Racing’s F1 team boss.

Now, new team boss Laurent Mekies and motorsport adviser Helmut Marko have a decision to make over Tsunoda’s future with the team. Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar is expected to replace Tsunoda at Red Bull in 2026, which could open the door for Alpine to make a swoop.

Briatore is considering signing Tsunoda for Alpine, and the 25-year-old is also considered to be among the favourites to replace Colapinto if the Enstone crew make a change. Tsunoda’s agent has refused to dismiss talks with Alpine, as well, with his future in F1 far from certain.