Pierre Gasly says it was tactical to focus on F1 2026 largely, as he feels some regulation changes in 2025 compounded their difficulties to set them behind.

For long it has been known that Alpine switched its focus to 2026 car. Basically, it has sacrificed its 2025 programme in order to give time to prepare better for next regulation cycle. The decision was taken taking Gasly in confidence, who re-signed with the F1 team until 2028 season.

The team started 2025 on a decent note, but as it has progressed the results have dipped. It is partly due to rivals gaining performance after updates and partly due to FIA’s regulation changes. It seems like the front wing deflection change hurt Alpine, as noted by Franco Colapinto earlier as well.

They lost some tenths due to that and with no updates to rectify, they fell behind in the pack to sit last. There has been some unlucky moments as well, where they could have scored, but large part is lack of pace. “I mean, we know it, and I’ve backed the team from the first day — start of the year — to fully commit on to 2026,” said Gasly. “We made some tactical decisions not to develop that car, to stop the development very early on.

“Probably got affected also by the couple of changes of regulation through the year, which meant we started in an okay place and probably lost performance through the year when others managed to develop a tiny bit more. And looking at the gaps — you’re not talking much — but two, three tenths one way or the other just gets you to the top 10 or completely to the back of the field.

“Unfortunately, we’re more towards the back. But in terms of decisions, we know why we are in this situation. I think all the efforts we are doing for next year are going to be rewarded in a couple of months. I know the team is working extremely well for the new regulation. So, yeah, I can’t wait to start ’26.

“As I said, I mean, I think we are aware that it hasn’t been as good as we would have liked, and the remaining part of the year is probably going to be also pretty difficult for us. So it doesn’t really change our approach into race weekends. Still trying to do the best we can. But for sure, in terms of performance, we seem to be more consistently struggling to make our way into Q2 and getting close to the top 10,” summed up Gasly.

Here’s Franco Colapinto on clash with Alexander Albon