Pierre Gasly and Max Verstappen both have something in common during the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Once teammates at Red Bull, they’re now driving cars which were expected to perform significantly better than they have done.
The constructors’ championship makes for bleak reading, especially at Alpine. They’re rock bottom during the summer break, and have 10 races left to turn their campaign around.
Gasly has been strong, as has Verstappen, but their teammates haven’t chipped in much to aid their efforts. Their car developments have also been poor.
Verstappen could grow tired of Red Bull if they continue to come up short in their pursuit of further performance.
Gasly made a Christian Horner prediction after he was sacked by the Milton Keynes-based outfit, and a new direction will be taken for the future. That includes in the cockpit for both teams.
Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty ImagesPierre Gasly reacted positively after being compared to Max Verstappen during Alpine’s worrying season
Both Red Bull and Alpine need a driver each for 2026, but are taking time to assess their options. Verstappen’s decision to stay at Red Bull could have ramifications for other drivers.
With Franco Colapinto’s frustrating form, Alpine could be looking at other options, given his contract expires soon. There are a few experienced alternatives on the market still.
Finishing last will be a significant blow, given how impressively they finished last year, which included a double podium in Brazil.
Gasly remains in a positive space, having dragged their car to Q3 on multiple occasions, while scoring 100% of their points this season. Comparisons to Verstappen have put a smile on his face.
“It’s always a big compliment when I’m mentioned in the same group as Max,” he told Formula.hu. “I’m really happy with the way we’re working together with the team, regardless of how the car is performing at the moment.
“I’m competitive, so it’s frustrating sometimes, because I’m not here to fight for tenth or fifteenth place, but I believe in the longer-term prospects of this project, where we’re going.
“I think we’ll come out of this stronger as a team, and it’ll bear fruit. With what we have now, we can’t expect miracles, but we knew that when we decided that the 2026 season would be the focus of our strategy.”
READ MORE: Will Buxton’s fascinating 2021 prediction of who would be Max Verstappen’s current Red Bull teammate
Helmut Marko’s promise to Max Verstappen that Mercedes couldn’t fulfil
Although Verstappen dominated the talk of the Formula 1 driver market for months, Mercedes were unable to persuade him to make a move to them.
The four-time champion is probably better off staying where he is for the future and avoiding any regret he might have by leaving the team he has been tied to for over a decade.
If they continue their poor run of form in 2026, then it would be understandable for him to seek a move, knowing which teams are going to be good for the following year.
Helmut Marko made a Verstappen promise that Mercedes wouldn’t, by allowing him to walk away from the sport next year if things go awry. He could seek some time in GT3 racing.