Pierre Gasly begins a new chapter
The presentation of Alpine on Thursday evening marked the first public appearance of Pierre Gasly with his new team. On this occasion, he had the opportunity to discuss various topics regarding this new chapter in his story.
After three years at AlphaTauri, the young Norman driver is joining Alpine for the 2023 season and is excited to start this new experience. “This is a new chapter for me, I am extremely motivated and I can’t wait to hit the track,” he declared during the presentation of the A523 yesterday in London.
His ambitions for 2023
“I am very excited, it’s a great project in which I strongly believe,” says the French driver. “From what I have seen at the factory in Enstone or in Viry, France, there is huge potential. We have the potential, including the human potential, now it’s about getting to work and I am sure that the results will follow.”
After a difficult start to the 2022 season, Alpine managed to iron out some mechanical issues in order to secure a respectable fourth place in the constructors’ championship. Gasly hopes to continue on this momentum.
I think that after a fantastic season and a great progression, the objective is to consolidate our fourth place in an even more dominant way and to reduce the gap with the top 3. We will try to develop [the car] as much as possible.
His relationship with Ocon
We know that if the two drivers have known each other since the sandbox, they have had some differences afterwards. However, Gasly assures that it’s ancient history. « I think we have spent more time together in the past two months than in the last eight or ten years! »
“I think that it has been very important,” he explains. “We are much more mature, and we are aware of the responsibility we have as representatives of a team like Alpine and with the Renault group behind us.”
No doubt that we are going to work very closely and very well together to advance the team, which we will all benefit from.
No comparison with Alonso.
Pierre Gasly takes Fernando Alonso’s place, who has left for Aston Martin, but he has no intention of comparing himself to the Spanish world champion.
« I don’t watch Fernando at all. He has an incredible career behind him and I only focus on myself and my own career,” he claims. “I want to be world champion one day, I want to win races, I want to bring Alpine to the top, and that’s all I’m focused on. I think the team has learned a lot from Fernando, which is a good thing, ».
A successful shakedown
I immediately felt comfortable in the car. It was the best shakedown I’ve ever had. He emphasizes that his arrival at Alpine is “a big, big change in my career and also in my life.” It is also “a huge opportunity.”
For the record, Zinedine Zidane was present during this shakedown. It was an opportunity for Gasly to meet one of his childhood heroes for the first time. I watched him play for years and even started playing football before getting into karting. I had never had the chance to meet him in person before.
