Pierre Gasly: Ready to Lead Alpine to Formula 1 Success Amidst Turbulent Times
In an exclusive interview with Autosport, Pierre Gasly expressed his confidence in steering Alpine’s Formula 1 team towards success, despite the tumultuous backdrop at Enstone. Gasly’s arrival in 2023 coincided with significant changes within the team, including the return of Flavio Briatore as an advisor to Renault CEO Luca de Meo and the appointment of Hitech chief Oliver Oakes as team principal.
Despite the challenges, Gasly remains optimistic about the team’s future, having recently extended his contract. With Esteban Ocon set to depart for Haas in 2025, Gasly is poised to become the natural leader of the squad, a role he feels has been unfolding naturally.
“It’s something that was quite natural,” Gasly explains. “I’m a very driven person, very focused in my work, and I’m trying to be very close to the people I work with. I’m very demanding of myself and the same way goes with the people that I work with.”
Gasly credits Alpine for providing him with the necessary flexibility and transparency, allowing him to thrive and build trust within the team.
“The team was very good at giving me the freedom and the transparency that I need to build the trust initially… They’ve been good at being transparent and very honest in that way, and always that reflection on how we can make things better.”
The French driver believes that strengthening long-term relationships is crucial for success in Formula 1, citing the examples of Michael Schumacher at Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
“It’s no secret why you see guys like Lewis working so long with the same race engineer and people sticking with people they know, because you build that trust and that communication process where no one’s afraid of telling things how they are, whether it’s good or bad.”
Gasly is determined to unite the team around him, despite the current lack of competitiveness of the 2024 car.
“Personally, it is not nice to be performing the way we are, but at the same time, I really see the efforts they’re doing. I’m sure that with that type of mentality we have at the moment, there’ll be a turnaround, and we’ll be able to get the performance out of the team.”
As Gasly looks to the future, he remains confident in his ability to lead Alpine to success, and his commitment to the team is unwavering.
“I’m a person that needs my space, I need my freedom. I have my personality. I think we all have different personalities inside the paddock. But I need my space to perform at my best, and on and off the track. And I think they’ve been very good at providing this.”
With Gasly at the helm, Alpine’s Formula 1 team is poised for a resurgence, and the French driver is ready to take on the challenge. Will he be able to lead the team to the top of the Formula 1 standings? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – Pierre Gasly is ready to take on the responsibility and drive Alpine to success.
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