Gasly extends Alpine deal in ‘challenging season’

Frenchman Pierre Gasly has extended his contract with Alpine, the Formula One outfit announced on Thursday without mentioning the length of his new deal.

Gasly, 28, joined Alpine last season from Scuderia Alpha on a deal until 2025.

His best performance with Alpine was a third-placed finish in the Dutch Grand Prix but sits 15th in the drivers’ championship this season.

“I feel very much at home at this great team,” Gasly said in an Alpine statement.

“While on-track it’s been a challenging season so far, I remain faithful to the project and I am not going anywhere. I am happy with the changes made, the hard work, and the direction the team is taking,” he added.

Alpine added they will announce Gasly’s team-mate for 2025 in “due course” with Esteban Ocon leaving.

Relations between the two have been far from harmonious, as they have clashed in both the Monaco and Canada races.

One driver waiting in the wings to step in next season is their reserve driver, Jack Doohan, son of five time Motorcycling world champion Mick Doohan.

“We will take our time in deciding Pierre’s team-mate,” Alpine team principal Bruno Famin said.

“We are excited with the options we have on the table,” he added.

Famin’s team are seventh in this season’s constructor’s championship, 20 points behind Honda in sixth after 10 of the season’s 24 races.

The next Grand Prix of this campaign takes place on Sunday 30 in Austria.