Pierre Gasly: The Unsung Hero of Alpine's Disastrous 2025 Season

Pierre Gasly endured the worst championship finish of his full-time F1 career, yet arguably delivered his most impressive season in 2025. Tasked with leading a struggling Alpine team, the French driver consistently outperformed his uncompetitive A525 car, showcasing exceptional pace in qualifying and scoring valuable points. His performance was a rare bright spot in a dismal season for the Enstone-based outfit, which slumped to last in the constructors' standings.

Why it matters:

In a sport obsessed with results, Gasly's 2025 campaign is a testament to a driver's true value beyond the stopwatch. His professionalism and ability to extract maximum performance from a deeply flawed car provided a crucial benchmark for the team's rookie drivers and a stabilizing presence during a difficult transition year focused on the 2026 regulations. His leadership and commitment were instrumental in keeping team morale high and securing the team's future foundation.

The details:

• The Alpine A525 was fundamentally uncompetitive, particularly on slow and bumpy tracks, and was hampered by a weak Renault power unit compared to rivals from Mercedes and Ferrari.
• Alpine halted development on the 2025 car as early as June to pivot its resources entirely toward the 2026 project, accepting the current season's fate.
• Gasly decisively outperformed both of his rookie teammates, Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto, who struggled to adapt to F1. He scored all 22 of the team's points.
• His season highlights included a P7 finish in Bahrain, a P6 at Silverstone, and an impressive 10 appearances in Q3 (11 including sprint qualifying), demonstrating his ability to overachieve with the machinery at his disposal.

Looking ahead:

Recognizing his immense contribution, Alpine rewarded Gasly with a contract extension through the 2028 season. The move aligns him with the team's ambitious 2026 plans, which include a switch to Mercedes power units—a change expected to dramatically improve their performance. Gasly's faith in the project and his proven leadership make him the ideal cornerstone to guide Alpine back to the front of the grid.