MONZA, Italy (AP) — Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly has signed a contract extension with Alpine through the 2028 season.
The deal was announced Saturday ahead of the Italian Grand Prix which Gasly surprisingly won in 2020 while racing for AlphaTauri.
“I’m thrilled to commit my long-term future to Alpine,” Gasly said. “As a Frenchman, especially, driving for a French car company, makes me feel very proud. Since I joined in 2023, I have always felt that this team is the right place to be for the future.
“I want to be here in years to come and deliver on our joint objective: to win races and world championships. We’re all in this together and I look forward to continuing this special story.”
Gasly signed a multiyear extension last year and Alpine said at the time it took him “into the 2025 season and beyond.”
The 29-year-old Gasly has five podium finishes, including two since joining Alpine. His best finish this season was sixth at Silverstone in July.
“We’re well prepared for the new era of Formula One, beginning in 2026, and now we have our lead driver confirmed to bring us well into the future," said Flavio Briatore, who rejoined the team last year as executive advisor.
“Pierre has been an immense asset for the team during this challenging period," Briatore added. "I have been very impressed with his attitude, dedication and talent and we look forward to continuing this project together for a long time.”
Alpine’s second seat remains up for grabs after Jack Doohan was dropped for Franco Colapinto six races into 2025. Neither Doohan nor Colapinto has scored a point for the team.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Alpine driver Pierre Gasly of France steers his car during the second free practice ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Alpine driver Pierre Gasly of France steers his car during the first free practice ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
BANGKOK (AP) — A construction crane fell onto a moving passenger train, causing a fiery derailment that killed at least 29 people Wednesday in northeastern Thailand. Another 64 people were injured and rescuers were still searching the wreckage and giving first aid.
The derailment occurred on part of an ambitious planned high-speed rail project that will eventually connect China with much of Southeast Asia.
The crane, which was being used to build an elevated part of the railway, fell as the train was traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province, according to the public relations office for Nakhon Ratchasima province, where the accident took place.
Photos published in Thai media showed plumes of white then dark smoke above the scene, and construction equipment hanging down from between two concrete support pillars.
Rescue workers stood on top of overturned railways carriages, some of them with gaping holes torn on their sides, video from public broadcaster ThaiPBS showed. What appeared to be sections of the crane were scattered along the track. Meanwhile, paramedics gave first aid to injured passengers.
Thai media reported the train had three carriages, the last two being the most damaged.
Transport Minister Piphat Ratchakitprakan said 195 people were on board the train. He said he ordered an investigation.
The elevated segment that collapsed is a part of a Thai-Chinese high-speed railway project linking the national capital Bangkok to the northeastern province of Nong Khai, bordering Laos. The two-stage rail project has a total investment cost of more than 520 billion baht ($16.8 billion) and is associated with an ambitious plan to connect China with Southeast Asia under Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.
In August 2024, a railway tunnel on the planned route, also in Nakhon Ratchasima, collapsed, killing three workers. Days of heavy rainfall were believed to have been a factor in the collapse.
Rescuers work amid the wreckage after a construction crane fell into a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, Wednesday, Jan.14, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit))
A rescuer stands near the wreckage after a construction crane fell into a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, Wednesday, Jan.14, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit))
Rescuers try to lift the wreckage after a construction crane fell into a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, Wednesday, Jan.14, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit))
Rescuers work amidst the wreckage after a construction crane fell into a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, Wednesday, Jan.14, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit))
Rescuers work amidst the wreckage after a construction crane fell into a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, Wednesday, Jan.14, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit))
An aid workers at the scene after a construction crane fell into a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nathathida Adireksarn)
The wreckage after a construction crane fell into a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nathathida Adireksarn)
This photo released from Thailand's Ministry of Transport, shows a scene after a construction crane fell into a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (Ministry of Transport via AP)
This photo released from State Railway of Thailand, shows aid workers after a construction crane fell into a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (State Railway of Thailand via AP)
This photo released from State Railway of Thailand, shows a scene after a construction crane fell into a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (State Railway of Thailand via AP)
This photo released from State Railway of Thailand, shows a scene after a construction crane fell into a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (State Railway of Thailand via AP)
This photo released from State Railway of Thailand, shows aid workers after a construction crane fell into a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (State Railway of Thailand via AP)
This photo provided by State Railway of Thailand shows a scene after a construction crane fell into a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (State Railway of Thailand via AP)
