'I could be world champion' - Surprise candidate enters F1 title race

Pierre Gasly has thrown his name into the hat for the F1 drivers' title fight - but not for this season. 

Despite the current campaign kickstarting with a double-header in Australia and China - the latter seeing Gasly disqualified for an underweight Alpine - he is already looking ahead to next year when new power unit regulations threaten to turn the field on its head. 

This season marks Alpine's last as a factory outfit after deciding to pull the plug on its powertrains programme. 

Instead, the Enstone-based team will become a Mercedes customer next year when the German manufacturing giant is expected to again deliver a strong package in 2026 

Mercedes thrived when the current engine regulations were introduced in 2014, emerging with a staggering advantage at the start of the turbo-hybrid era. 

As a result, Gasly is excited about the new regulations to come, claiming he would rather Alpine direct its resources to develop next year's car. 

Gasly would be content with the French team sacrificing this season, recognising how much potential next year holds for him and Alpine.

"Very interested [in what's happening next year], because in '26 I could be world champion," Gasly remarkably told select media, including RacingNews365. 

"So that's something I'm putting a lot of focus on. Obviously, I'm fully dedicated and focused on '25, but as a team, we know what's on the table this year.

"We know what's on the table for '26, so the strategy has already been put in place for next year. As I mentioned at the F1 launch, if it were down to me, I would just put all the guys and all the money towards next year.

"Whether I finish eighth, ninth, sixth, seventh, it doesn't really matter. But if next year we can fight for wins and podiums, that's really meaningful."