- Gasly has scored points in all three Grand Prix so far this year.
- Frenchman sits ahead of four-time champion, Verstappen in standings.
- Performances going under the radar, for now, not for much longer.
Gasly’s great start to the season
While the F1 community raves about Kimi Antonelli and his impressive surge to the top of the championship standings, and rightly so, Pierre Gasly also deserves his flowers, too. Gasly, who was Alpine’s only driver to score points in 2025, is starting 2026 quite strongly. To date, the Frenchman has claimed points in all three Grand Prix so far and is looking to continue this good form.
It likely goes under the radar just how good Gasly’s season has started. He is 8th in the drivers’ standings and above Max Verstappen (who is having a difficult time of his own). Alpine currently run the Mercedes engine in their car, and while most of the talk is on their team, Pierre Gasly has quietly been consistently delivering.
His only non-scoring outing was the Chinese GP sprint race where he qualified 10th and finished 11th.
Stats behind Gasly’s impressive start
In 2026, Pierre Gasly has reached Q3 twice in main GP qualifying and once for sprint qualifying.
| Grand Prix | Qualifying Result | Race Finish | Points Scored |
| Australia | P14 | P10 | 1 |
| China | P7 | P6 | 8 |
| Japan | P7 | P7 | 6 |
His P7 in Japan was incredibly fought for. Pierre Gasly held of a charging Max Verstappen to keep a valuable haul of points.
Alpine’s Mercedes engine switch paying dividends
Pierre Gasly’s A526 has been a joy for him to drive. Gasly coined his car ‘the best car he’s ever had’, explaining, “I think, for now, this is the best car I’ve had in my career, perhaps alongside the 2021 AlphaTauri”.
In 2025, Alpine forfeited their development in the hope to create a car capable of fighting in the midfield.
In 2026, this new chapter for Gasly and Alpine could be the beginning of a significant shift in their history. From struggling at the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship to potentially finishing themselves top of the midfield battle. The decision to end their partnership with Renault has put them in a good position with the widely coveted Mercedes engine.
Under the radar in a top heavy paddock
Why is there not more noise surrounding this amazing start to the season from Gasly? The likes of McLaren who struggled to really get started, Ferrari who have been chasing Mercedes and the Mercedes pair themselves have stolen all the headlines. Between individual performances and general criticism of the new regulations, there has barely been enough time to recognise Gasly’s stellar performances.
What next for Gasly?
Unquestionably, the battle for midfield is one that Gasly will be heavily involved in; whether he’ll come out on top or will end up shuffled somewhere in the middle, it will be an exciting watch. Maybe then he won’t be so underrated anymore.
