Pierre Gasly really ‘encouraged’ by key signing Alpine have made this year

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Alpine had a crucial decision to make at the start of this season knowing both of their drivers were out of contract.

Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon’s relationship is well documented and although they had been relatively amicable off the track, their clashes on the track were far from helpful.

A collision in Australia last year followed by their first-lap tangle in Monaco this season only increased tensions and it was decided that after five years, Esteban Ocon would be heading out of the exit door.

There was talk earlier in the year that Alpine could move on both drivers, but one-time race winner Pierre Gasly has been retained for 2025 and the upcoming rule changes the following year.

However, it’s safe to say that Gasly’s second campaign with Alpine hasn’t quite gone to plan.

The French team finished 4^th in the Constructors’ Championship in 2022 but this year they’ll be lucky to match their top-six finish from last year.

There’s a significant gap to RB and Haas and they’re under more threat from Williams and Sauber behind them.

Plenty of change is taking place at Alpine and speaking on The Race’s YouTube channel, journalist Edd Straw explained how this has impacted Gasly’s feeling about the team.

Flavio Briatore has been brought in as an advisor to Renault CEO Luca de Meo and is already impacting the team’s decisions off the track.

Team principal Bruno Famin is taking over a new role within the team and will be replaced by Hitech boss Oliver Oakes.

However, Gasly has been really impressed by the arrival of David Sanchez after a short spell at McLaren.

Sanchez spent more than a decade at Ferrari becoming their chief engineer but has taken up the role of executive technical director at Alpine.

Updates produced under his watch are already having an impact on their performance.

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

Pierre Gasly pleased with David Sanchez’s arrival at Alpine this season

Speaking about the changes made his Sanchez’s arrival, Straw said: “There have also been aerodynamic gains, although the main improvement was just through the team taking some pragmatic decisions to make the best out of what it had and come up with a car that it was easier to get the most out of.

“There was also a major upgrade package that was introduced at Spa that included a new engine cover.

“These were the first developments that new technical director David Sanchez had the chance to have some influence on.

“And Sanchez’s arrival has encouraged Gasly as he believes they’re on a similar wavelength when it comes to where Alpine needs to improve.

“Gasly even says that Sanchez coming in played a part in his decision to stay on.”

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Who could join Pierre Gasly at Alpine in 2025?

There are now several key decision-makers at Alpine who may all have their own ideas on the team’s driver pairing for next season.

Jack Doohan is on the team’s shortlist after impressing behind the scenes with his work on the simulator.

He’s had two FP1 outings this year although they’ve both been weather-affected and he’ll be hoping he’s done enough to earn a promotion onto the grid next year.

Briatore’s arrival will also have an impact even if selecting a new driver isn’t technically under his jurisdiction.

Carlos Sainz was Briatore’s chosen target but he’s now joined Williams and Briatore could instead provide Mick Schumacher with a boost for his Formula 1 ambitions.

Oakes’s Hitech team are having a strong season in Formula 2 and in particular, Paul Aron is doing a fine job.

Aron is putting himself in the frame to race for Alpine but he still appears to be an outside bet for the role.