Alpine Formula One driver Pierre Gasly knew about Lewis Hamilton’s talks with Ferrari
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Pierre Gasly said that Hamilton's impending move had been a well-kept secret.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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ENSTONE, England – Alpine’s Pierre Gasly said he knew about Lewis Hamilton’s talks with Ferrari and the announcement of the Briton’s move from Mercedes
Speaking to reporters at the launch of the Renault-owned team’s 2024 car on Feb 7, Frenchman Gasly said it had been a well-kept secret. The move was announced on Feb 1.
“I was aware of some talks with Ferrari. Ultimately, he (Hamilton) is towards the end of his career. So it was either now or never,” said Gasly, who celebrated his 28th birthday on that day.
“I think it was kept secret for quite a long time. I wish him the best.”
Hamilton, 39, will replace Spaniard Carlos Sainz and team up with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari. Gasly and Leclerc are old friends, and the pair are online gamers with Hamilton.
In 2020, the Frenchman revealed in an ESPN podcast that he regularly exchanged messages and questions with Hamilton, seeking the Briton’s advice.
“What’s fair in F1?” he replied on Feb 7 when asked if the situation had been fair to Sainz.
“Carlos is a great driver, Lewis is a fantastic driver, the best of all time. There was an opportunity on both sides. I think Ferrari and Lewis took it together.
“It leaves Carlos in a more tricky situation, and it’s not easy.”
A winner with Toro Rosso at Monza in 2020, Gasly finished third last season at the Dutch Grand Prix for his first podium with Alpine.
Neither Gasly nor teammate and fellow Frenchman Esteban Ocon, who also recorded a podium placing, managed to finish in the top 10 of the 2023 drivers’ standings.
The new A524 car has yet to run, but Alpine described it as bold and aggressive.
Gasly, who joined the team in 2023 in what he admitted was a disappointing season, said it might be a bit harder in the opening races but there would be plenty of potential to unlock later in 2024.
“We want to see the team at the top,” he added. “So we will work for that. You got to take risks at some point if you want to get bigger rewards. So that’s the strategy we decided to go for.”
He now feels in the best shape he has ever been and a “completely different place” compared to 2023, knows everyone in the team and the way of working.
“I’m feeling a lot better than a year ago,” he said.
Alpine finished sixth overall last season, a drop from fourth in 2022.
The 2024 F1 calendar features a record 24 races, starting with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 2.
Gasly and Ocon will have the chance to get behind the wheel of the new car when testing gets under way in Bahrain from Feb 21, before they start their campaign on March 2 on the same track.
Ocon, 27, is gearing up for his eighth year in Formula One and is ready for the challenge of the sport’s longest season yet.
“To see it (the new car) for the first time, it looks very aggressive and there has been an enormous amount of work going on through months and months,” he said.
“I’m very happy because it has been a long winter, but we are ready to get going.
“It’s going to be a super-long season, 24 races, record-breaking. So it was very important to be healthy and start with a good physical level for that whole long season.” AFP, REUTERS
