The news broke on Thursday, but it wasn’t all that surprising. In fact, I already called it earlier this month when Alpine revealed that Esteban Ocon isn’t staying. With Ocon out, there is very little reason for Gasly to leave as well. It’s no secret that the two didn’t get along great, and that also affected how Gasly felt within the team. Now that Ocon is leaving, it means that the way is clear for him to become the team leader. And with the performance of the car now slowly improving, it also bodes well for his future.
There weren’t many alternatives either. Sure, teams like Haas and Williams would most likely have welcomed him with open arms, but that wasn’t much of an improvement compared to Alpine. And with seats at Aston Martin and Mercedes out of reach, it really left Alpine as the only decent option for Gasly.
From the team’s point of view, it helps to have a sense of stability in their driver line-up. Keeping Gasly on ensures that, plus he’s a good enough driver that he can help the team progress further. Add to that the chance of them adding a rookie driver next year, and you get plenty of reasons for the team to want to continue with Gasly.
Alpine runs the risk of another Piastri Saga
What’s much more interesting than Gasly’s renewal however, is who will drive alongside him. It’s interesting that Alpine didn’t confirm their full line-up in one go. And that is because they are currently still keeping their options open for that second seat.
It’s clear who is at the top of Alpine’s wishlist, and it’s the same man who is at the top of the wishlist for all the teams at the back of the grid: Carlos Sainz. Initially, you’d be laughed at if you would suggest that move, but there appears to be a little bit more to it than just wishful thinking from Alpine. Sainz obviously has some ties to the team, having driven for them in their Renault guise back in 2017 and 2018. The team has significantly changed since then though, and not exactly for the better. But much more important is the fact that Flavio Briatore is now back at Alpine. And, if nothing else, Briatore knows how to convince someone of a prospect. He has been seen talking to both Sainz and his father, Carlos Sainz senior. Does it mean anything? Maybe, maybe not. But it does suddenly mean that Sainz to Alpine is a move that can’t be ruled out.
But there are two other drivers competing for that seat as well. Mick Schumacher is desperate for a new lease on life in F1 after his disappointing time at Haas. He is currently competing in the World Endurance Championship with Alpine, where he’s getting some firsthand experience in the car blowing itself to pieces. He’ll soon perform a test for the Alpine F1 team at the Circuit Paul Ricard to see what he can do in that car.
But he won’t be the only Alpine driver in that test. Reserve and test driver Jack Doohan will also be on track that day to test the same car. Doohan has been a loyal back-up for the French marque, stepping into the role right after the Piastri Saga of 2022. And it seems like Alpine might risk doing the same thing again with Doohan. If they’re picking Sainz over him: fair enough, can’t blame them for that. But if they’re picking Mick over Doohan… well that might be a grave mistake. Doohan has been crucial in Alpine’s development over the past two years. All that loyalty, all that investment, all that progression that Alpine liked to talk about with Piastri, well you can flip all that around and sling it back into their face if they don’t pick Doohan now.
Alpine reserve driver Jack Doohan.