“We have never been so strong”: Pierre Gasly on Alpine’s sixth place in the constructors’ championship
Pierre Gasly continued his momentum after regaining his form with Alpine at the end of the season, taking advantage of their growing strength to secure sixth place in the Constructors' Championship in Abu Dhabi.
The French driver had scored only nine points in the first 20 races, before the remarkable team performance in Brazil, where both him and Esteban Ocon clinched a podium. This crucial success allowed Pierre Gasly to finish the year on a positive note.
Arrived at the Yas Marina circuit with a new teammate, Jack Doohan, who will join him full-time in 2025, Gasly had a clear goal: to maintain the five-point lead he had helped accumulate over their direct rivals, Haas.
He also benefited from a three-place grid penalty imposed on Nico Hülkenberg after qualifying, which promoted him to fifth place at the start. But although he couldn’t compete with the speed of the Red Bulls and Mercedes, he finished the race in seventh place, three seconds ahead of the Haas driver.
“I am so happy, the season has been very long,” said Gasly after the race. “We had a goal arriving in Abu Dhabi: to secure this sixth place in the constructors’ championship, and we have achieved it.”
« There was also the duel in the drivers’ championship with Nico, where we were one point away from each other before the final race. We knew that whoever finished ahead would get the 10th place, and I managed to get it. No damage to the car all season, so all three objectives are accomplished! I am very satisfied with the evolution and development of the car, it really shows all the work done by the team this season. It gives me confidence for next season. »
Gasly determined for 2025
Alpine managed to stand out in a fierce battle in the middle of the pack, despite numerous changes within the team, from Ocon’s premature departure to the halt of their engine program, and the appointment of Oliver Oakes as team principal mid-season. It was a rollercoaster season for them.
Gasly seems determined to continue on this momentum for the next season, the last before the major regulatory changes planned for 2026 and the team’s switch to Mercedes engines.
« We still have a big gap with the leading teams, but I am very happy to see that what we find in the factory translates into performance on the track, he said.
« We started far behind, and I always told the team that no matter where we start, what matters is where we finish, and that we need to understand and develop the car for 2025.
(e) I think we have never been as strong as in the last races. This motivates me for next season, at least, I will have a more relaxed winter knowing that we still have performances to come. As a team, we are moving in the right direction.
