Pierre Gasly on Alpine's Radical 2026 Focus: 'I Literally Do Not Care' About This Season

Pierre Gasly has expressed strong support for Alpine's unconventional decision to halt development on its current A525 car early in the season, conceding that he "literally does not care" about the 2024 campaign in favor of focusing on 2026.

Why it matters:

Alpine's aggressive strategy to prioritize the upcoming 2026 regulation changes, which include a shift to new power unit regulations and becoming a Mercedes customer, signals a significant long-term gamble. This move could either catapult them back to competitiveness or leave them further adrift if their 2026 efforts don't materialize as hoped. Gasly's candid remarks underscore the high stakes involved in sacrificing immediate performance for future potential.

The Details:

• Early Development Halt: Alpine made the bold decision early in the year to cease development of its 2024 challenger, the A525. The rationale is to divert all resources and focus towards the pivotal 2026 power unit regulations.
• 2026 Regulation Overhaul: Formula 1 will undergo a major regulatory shift in 2026, particularly concerning power units. These new units will feature a 50/50 split between electrical and internal combustion power.
• Customer Engine Deal: Alpine is transitioning from an engine manufacturer to a Mercedes customer team starting in 2026. This move marks the end of their era as an independent power unit supplier in F1.
• Sacrificing 2024 Performance: As a direct consequence of this strategy, Gasly and Esteban Ocon have frequently found themselves competing with one of the grid's least competitive cars at most Grand Prix events, resulting in very few points.
• Gasly's Stance: Despite the on-track struggles, Gasly firmly defends Alpine's decision. He stated that if the choice leads to a significantly better car in 2026, the current season's performance is irrelevant. He emphasized that what Alpine could realistically fight for this year "is still not good enough for us."
• Seeking Greatness: Gasly believes that these weeks and months of focused development could provide Alpine with a crucial head start over rival teams, ultimately leading to greater success in the future. He concluded, "it’s a bit drastic, but sometimes to achieve greatness, you’ve got to make tough choices."

What's next:

Alpine's commitment to the 2026 project is now total. The success or failure of this audacious strategy will become clear when the new regulations take effect. Until then, Gasly and Ocon will likely face a challenging 2024 and 2025 as the team channels its efforts into building a competitive foundation for the future. The paddock will be closely watching to see if this 'drastic' approach pays off for the Enstone-based squad.