Pierre Gasly: In 2026, Alpine will be able to fight for victories

      Pierre Gasly has been driving for Alpine F1 for the third season and during this time the team has changed three managers. The French racer took part in the next edition of the podcast Beyond The Grid, and he was asked a question about Oliver Oakes, who led the Renault factory team last summer.

      "Of course, it takes time to build a trusting relationship with the team and achieve mutual understanding, but I must say that so far everything is working out for him," Pierre replied. "Oliver is a real racer, he has raced in his time, so he knows all aspects of the team's work well.

      He understands the engineering side of things, knows how the team functions, but also understands how the riders perceive what is happening, and this, of course, contributes to our communication. He knows how to act in order for the team to develop, and he knows how to create conditions in which we all try to give our best.

      When Oliver took over the team, I didn't know him very well, so it took several months for us to establish a real understanding. But now I can say that I am very pleased with the way our relationship is developing and the direction in which he is leading the team.

      Although I'm quite a cheerful person, a year ago I smiled much less often, and the team's business was much worse. But the first results of the work that we have done together over the past few months are really impressive - for this we must thank Oliver, Flavio Briatore, and everyone who works at the Enstone base.

      But I can already feel the dynamics of these positive changes and the general desire to achieve better results. We are starting to make higher demands on ourselves, gradually all the elements begin to add up to the right picture, and in a few months we will see the results.

      For me personally, it doesn't matter if I finish seventh, sixth, eighth, ninth or tenth. I want to get on the podium, I want to win races. The strategy for further development has already been determined, we know that we will receive Mercedes engines, we know how the process of creating a new chassis will go.

      The team can achieve a lot in 2026, and all this inspires me, because next year we can see how Alpine will be able to fight for victories."