Gasly has “done his bit” regarding Carlos Sainz’s arrival at Alpine

The possibility of seeing Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz reunited at Alpine next year is increasingly generating speculation. Discussions between the Spaniard and the French team have intensified in recent weeks. During the drivers’ press conference, Pierre Gasly addressed the issue, stating that he has done his part of the work and that the decision now belongs to the team.

I think I’ve already said that Alpine, the team, has good options on the table. In the end, it’s not me who decides. I’m ready to welcome the fastest guy. We all know who that is. But for now, we have to wait. But the team has three good options. Although the French driver did not explicitly name the driver in question, it seems evident that he was referring to Carlos Sainz.

The son of the double world rally champion is currently in great form, with a podium in Austria and a fine fifth place in Silverstone, which is attracting attention for next season. His discussions with Audi and Williams are no longer progressing, the Spaniard looking for a project aligned with his ambitions, which Alpine seems to offer. Flavio Briatore, involved in the negotiations, would have proposed an agreement including a safeguard clause for 2026, allowing Sainz to join a top team if the opportunity arose.

This would mark a return to Enstone and Viry-Châtillon for Sainz, who raced under the name of Renault in 2017 (from the United States Grand Prix replacing Jolyon Palmer) and 2018. However, Sainz remains cautious and does not exclude the possibility of joining Red Bull, Mercedes, or Williams, depending on Perez’s situation and Mercedes’ evaluation of Kimi Antonelli.

If the negotiations were to fail, Alpine would consider its Academy drivers, Jack Doohan and Victor Martins. For Pierre Gasly, the choice is clear. He expressed his wish to see Sainz join the team: “I have done my part of the work, but in the end, I believe in the projects we are building with Alpine and I still support the team. Now it’s up to him to make his own decision.”

Gasly wishes that his team recruits a talented driver capable of bringing in points and valuable data to move towards the team’s objectives, notably victory in 2026. But on my side, I don’t care, I’m just one of the fastest guys and I always want a strong reference in the second seat. I have had good teammates in the past and Esteban is strong, and I hope we can replace him with the strongest and fastest driver. Honestly, I am not ready to focus on these speculations. I am ready and willing to give my best to the team, no matter who is by my side.

The final decision regarding Gasly’s teammate is yet to be made, but it is certain that Sainz’s arrival at Alpine would add a new interesting dynamic to the team.