Pierre Gasly has confirmed he is currently in discussions with Alpine to stay on with the troubled Formula 1 team for the 2025 season.
After Renault's team decided to let go of Esteban Ocon for the 2025 season, Gasly, speaking to Canal Plus, expressed his frustration over being associated with the breakdown of that partnership.
"I was not at all involved in anything that has happened since last week," he firmly stated in Montreal.
"It's true that it's annoying to see my name always come up in discussions about the fact that the decision was made not to continue with Esteban," the fellow Frenchman remarked.
"Esteban has his relationship, I have my relationship, we are not twins, we each have our own careers," Gasly emphasized.
He acknowledged that the dialogue about extending his stay at Alpine is underway.
"Of course it's something we've been discussing for a while," Gasly mentioned. "Things are progressing but for the moment, there's nothing set for the future. We'll see what I'm going to do."
Meanwhile, team reserve Jack Doohan, who stepped into Ocon's car for the initial Friday practice in Canada, is a strong contender for Ocon's replacement.
"I want to be here full-time, obviously," the young Australian expressed to Viaplay. "But the media does all kinds of things. Every day there is a new story.
"I'm enjoying being here in the car and testing the track and of course I want to be here on the grid next year," Doohan continued. "I have never made a secret of that."
Bruno Famin, the team boss, acknowledged that Doohan, aged 21, is "one of the candidates," but also "only one of the possible candidates."
"We have spoken to many people and we are speaking to many people," he revealed in Montreal, noting that Mick Schumacher is also being considered.
"He is a young but also an experienced driver with his two seasons," Famin described Schumacher. "He (Mick) is on the list, but the list is long. I don't even know how many names are on it.
Everyone talks to everyone and there are still some good drivers available for us."
