Pierre Gasly is in the best physical and mental shape of his life ahead of the 2024 season
The French driver looks back on his preparations over the winter before starting his second season with Alpine, alongside compatriot Esteban Ocon. Pierre Gasly says he's never felt in better shape than at the moment.
Last season, Pierre Gasly secured a podium finish at Zandvoort by finishing third in the Dutch Grand Prix. On the other side of the garage, his teammate Esteban Ocon also achieved a third place as his best result during the Monaco Grand Prix.
But overall, Alpine had a challenging season both in terms of sports performance and organization. The French team made numerous internal changes, notably leading to the departure of team principal Otmar Szafnauer during the season.
Evaluate the new car and work from there.
Ending 2023 in a distant sixth place in the constructors’ championship, the team has opted for a radical change in concept in the hopes of closing the gap with the top teams.
We have taken a bold approach to the new car after feeling that we were stagnating last year. Although we made it to the podium a few times, it was not enough, said Pierre Gasly.
We felt the need to embark on a new project, knowing that it could make the beginning of the year more complicated than we would like, but we are aware that there could be a stronger development curve, so that is what we are aiming for.
Personally, I know that I am in the best physical condition,” the French driver continued. “I have experience in the team, seven years in Formula 1 now, so I know exactly what I need to work on, how to prepare myself. So, I feel good. We first need to evaluate this new car, where we are starting from, and work from there.”
Gasly admitted that the integration time with his new team took a lot of energy from him last year. But now, with all his accumulated experience, the French driver wants to achieve better results with Alpine in 2024.
« We had two podium trophies last season, so I definitely want to get more this season,” he said. “I just turned 28, so it’s definitely time to get more and to get that second victory [after his first at Monza in 2020 with AlphaTauri], and that’s what we’ll aim for. That’s why I’m in Formula 1, I want to perform and fight for those top positions.
The objective for me personally is always the same, to do the best job possible for the team with the car that is given to me,” Gasly added.
The best physical and mental shape of my life
As usual, the French driver spent a large part of the pre-season training in Dubai, in order to acclimatize to the weather he will encounter during the first two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
It will be a tough physical test for all the drivers after a long break, but Gasly was able to take advantage of this break to recharge and prepare as best as possible. And all with the help of a friend and former teammate.
(I) “I am in the best physical and mental shape of my life, and very excited to start,” he stated. (I) “With 24 races on the schedule, we know the season will be very intense, with a lot of traveling that limits the time we have to train, so we must develop this preparation before the start of the year.”
There was a lot of sweat in Dubai, good preparation before Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. It was nice, Yuki [Tsunoda] was there, so we had good karting sessions, we ran into each other a few times in the gym, pushed each other, played some padel. It was just fun to see him in a different mindset and get into that competitive mindset, Gasly recounted.
The French team will be in Bahrain from February 21st to 23rd for winter testing before the first round of the championship, also in Bahrain, from February 29th to March 2nd.
