Damon Hill absolutely loves the ‘genius’ 2026 prediction Alpine star Pierre Gasly has made

Alpine driver Pierre Gasly has continued to show that he’s one of the strongest drivers in Formula 1’s midfield this season.

After 158 Grand Prix starts and a single victory, Pierre Gasly is doing everything he can to drag Alpine up the standings.

Last year, Gasly scored points in four of the last five races to help Alpine finish sixth in the constructors’ championship, with the team’s double-podium at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix the highlight.

This season, Esteban Ocon was replaced by Jack Doohan, but even during pre-season Gasly was impressing, even if the team have proved to not be as competitive as expected.

After three race weekends, Alpine were the only point-less team in the paddock, with Gasly disqualified in China which denied him two points after Ferrari’s double exclusion.

The Frenchman then barely failed to hold off Max Verstappen in Bahrain, but still secured six points and a P7 finish, while Doohan is still searching for his first Formula 1 point.

However, while Gasly is battling the likes of Williams and RB in the midfield this year, the 29-year-old has much loftier ambitions for when the regulations change in 2026.

READ MORE: Alpine driver Pierre Gasly’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Damon Hill reacts to Pierre Gasly saying he could be ‘world champion’ in 2026

Speaking to the assorted media ahead of this season starting, Gasly said: “I’m very interested because in 2026 I could be world champion, so that’s obviously that’s something that I’m putting a lot of focus on.

“I’m fully dedicated and focused on ’25, but as a team we’re well aware that we know what’s on the table for this year and you know we know what’s on the table for ’26.

“The strategy has already been put in place for next year, but as I mentioned at the F1 launch, if it was down to me, I’ll just put all the guys and all the money towards next year because that’s where, you know, whether I finish eighth, ninth, sixth, seventh doesn’t really matter, but next year we can fight for wins and podiums.

“That’s something that’s really meaningful.”

Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill reacted to Gasly’s statement on his Instagram story and said: “I think it was Napoleon who said, “Boldness hath Genius.”

It’s an amazing claim from Gasly considering what Alpine are in the pecking order right now.

However, it shows he’s got ambitions to be more than just a midfield driver for the rest of his career, and the upcoming regulation changes could make all the difference.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Why Pierre Gasly isn’t crazy to think he could challenge for the 2026 F1 world championship

Looking at Gasly’s current points tally of six, it’s hard to imagine he might be in the same realm as Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri next season.

However, there are some big changes coming in 2026 that Alpine might be on the right side of.

Alpine’s Renault engine has let them down during this era of Formula 1, lagging behind the likes of Ferrari and Honda ever since the power unit freeze introduced in 2022.

Thankfully, Alpine will start using Mercedes power units from next season which should give the team an immediate boost.

Mercedes could have the best engine in 2026, meaning that Alpine, McLaren and Williams could be the factory team’s biggest rivals while everyone else plays catch up.

LIke Verstappen and George Russell this year, Gasly is also the clear number one at Alpine, meaning that if they are suddenly in the fight for podiums and wins, whoever the Frenchman’s teammate is should be instructed to help him out.

While that currently looks like it’ll be Doohan, Franco Colapinto is fighting for his place on the grid as well, but both drivers are significantly less experienced than the 29-year-old.

Gasly’s ambitions might seem far-fetched at the moment, but there might be method to his madness after all.