Gasly relishes 'special' on-track battles with Verstappen

Pierre Gasly says fighting Max Verstappen on track makes a Grand Prix weekend "extra special," highlighting the unique pressure and motivation that comes from battling a four-time world champion. The Alpine driver, enjoying a much-improved car in 2026, has scored points in every race so far and recently held off Verstappen to finish seventh at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Why it matters:

For a driver at a midfield team, directly racing a champion from a top team is a rare and significant benchmark of performance. Gasly's ability to battle Verstappen is a tangible sign of Alpine's competitive step forward this season and adds a crucial layer of intrigue to the battles just behind the top three teams. It demonstrates that the French squad is now a consistent points contender capable of mixing it with the elite on occasion.

The details:

• At the Japanese GP, Gasly withstood sustained pressure from Verstappen's Red Bull over the final laps to secure seventh place, just one position ahead of the Dutchman.
• Gasly emphasized the unique quality of the challenge, stating, "with that extra pressure, there is more at stake, [because of] who you're fighting against."
• He credits these high-stakes duels for extracting his best performance, adding, "I also get the best out of myself in this type of performance."
• The 2026 Alpine A526 represents a clear step forward, allowing Gasly to be "best of the rest" behind the top three teams (Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari) in race trim on multiple occasions.
• Gasly currently sits eighth in the Drivers' Championship with 15 points, just seven points shy of his entire 2025 total after only three rounds.

What's next:

The positive momentum at Alpine is building internal confidence. Gasly noted the car works well on diverse track layouts, which bodes well for consistency across the calendar.

• He believes the team's visible progress—"Quite different to last year"—provides a motivational "boost" at the factory to push development further.
• The key question is whether Alpine can maintain this form and potentially close the gap to the top three, or if they will solidify themselves as the clear leaders of the midfield pack. Gasly's continued points finishes will be critical to that mission.