23 March 2023

It is easy to get lost in the excitement of a Frenchman joining a French team with an all-French driver line-up. The story could not be more perfect – The Prodigal Son Returns to Normandy! – and yet it undermines a large portion of the story and his career so far. As Pierre Gasly gets his first taste of racing in BWT Alpine F1 Team colours this season, we invite you to take a closer look at the man behind the visor.

 

 

After nine years within the same organisation, Pierre starts a new chapter in his career that is brimming with the excitement of new challenges and successes.

 

 

Joining BWT Alpine F1 Team, he steps into the position of compatriot with fellow driver Esteban Ocon, serves as a brand ambassador to Alpine Cars, a role model to the team’s band of young drivers across the Alpine Academy and Rac(H)er programme, and becomes the newest teammate to the countless men and women that work to make our team what it is.

 

 


But… if there is anything we have learned about Pierre in the years that we have followed his career, it is that he is much more than a racing driver.

 


Those close to Pierre will tell you that he is usually running a few minutes late, with a cheeky smile on his face and the latest stats from last night’s PSG match on the tip of his tongue. He will be immaculately dressed, sometimes newly arrived from Paris Fashion Week or a basketball game in the States; and when he is not physically around, he is guaranteed to be only a few likes away on Instagram.

 


He has mastered the delicate balance of being a fierce competitor in the paddock while exuding a joyful confidence that has weathered his six seasons in Formula 1 to date.

 

 

In no small part the person and competitor Pierre Gasly has become is because of the support from those around him. With four older brothers and more than a handful of nieces and nephews, family is a key focus for Pierre, helping him to recharge away from the track.

 


Pierre spent the off-season in Dubai for warm-weather training before a quick stop in Miami and a trip to Paris with the NBA. Clips of him playing a pick-up game with Charles Leclerc and NBA legends Joakim Noah and Tony Parker quickly surfaced on social media, serving as a reminder that your relationship with drivers on track is just as important as your relationship off track.

 


In a sport so fast-paced and intense, there is a deep privilege that comes with getting to know a competitor personally – and an even deeper privilege that comes with joining the trusted few that get to travel the globe alongside some of the fastest athletes in the world. His personal team consists of close friends and industry professionals that all work together to make sure Pierre is reaching his maximum potential as both a driver and a human being.

 


As the season picks up and Pierre secures his first points with BWT Alpine F1 Team, we look forwards to celebrating his successes, learning from his challenges, indulging in his varied interests and engaging with his following on social media. We cannot wait to see what the 2023 season brings and we hope that you will come along for the ride.