JUST IN: Inspired by Lewis Hamilton? F1 Star Hints at Major Career Change….. Read more
Inspired by Lewis Hamilton? F1 Star Hints at Major Career Change
By Hugo Harvey
Pierre Gasly has never been one to follow the conventional Formula 1 driver blueprint, and the Frenchman has now openly hinted that his future may stretch far beyond the confines of the paddock. While Gasly remains firmly committed to his racing career with Alpine, he has admitted that a significant career shift could be on the horizon one day, inspired in part by the example set by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Gasly has been a full-time presence in Formula 1 since making his debut during the 2017 season, carving out a reputation as one of the grid’s most resilient and self-aware drivers. Currently competing for Alpine, the 29-year-old endured a challenging 2025 campaign with the Enstone-based outfit, who finished bottom of the constructors’ championship. Despite the team’s struggles, Gasly recently committed his future to Alpine by signing a new contract that is expected to keep him with the team until the end of the 2028 season.
That decision raised eyebrows across the paddock, particularly given Alpine’s form over the past two years. However, Gasly appears settled in his role and is widely expected to remain the team’s lead driver as they attempt to rebuild under sweeping regulation changes arriving in 2026. Those new rules, combined with Alpine’s upcoming switch to Mercedes power units, offer renewed hope that the team could take a step forward after a difficult period.
Yet while his focus remains on improving Alpine’s fortunes on track, Gasly has been increasingly open about his interests away from racing. Central among them is fashion, an industry he has long admired and one he credits Lewis Hamilton with helping to normalize within Formula 1. Hamilton’s bold approach to self-expression, particularly through his paddock attire, has reshaped perceptions of what an F1 driver can be, and Gasly believes that shift had a personal impact on his own confidence.
Gasly has previously spoken about how Hamilton’s willingness to push boundaries made it easier for other drivers to express their personalities without fear of judgment. That influence appears to have stayed with him, as he now openly acknowledges that fashion could play a major role in his post-racing life. Speaking to F1’s Off the Grid feature, Gasly admitted that exploring new creative worlds is something he sees as inevitable.
“I’m definitely going to get into this world at some point,” Gasly said. “I just like the creativity behind it, and that’s why, at the end of the day, I want to discover other worlds.”
Unlike many of his fellow drivers who base themselves in Monaco, Gasly has chosen to live in Milan, one of the world’s fashion capitals. That decision, unusual within the F1 community, has only deepened his appreciation for style and design. Gasly described his early experiences in the city with clear enthusiasm, noting how everyday fashion left a lasting impression on him.
“The first time I came to Milan, every man, every woman, I was just staring like, ‘How beautiful are these people?’” he explained. “The style, everybody’s very elegant. From 15 years old to 75 years old, I’ve seen the coolest grandmas walking around town.”
For Gasly, Milan is more than just a place to live; it is a constant source of inspiration. He joked that simply stepping outside in the city demands a certain level of effort when it comes to appearance, reinforcing how deeply fashion is woven into daily life there. It is a mindset that contrasts sharply with the often insular, performance-driven world of Formula 1.
Despite these musings about life beyond racing, Gasly is far from distracted from his immediate responsibilities. His renewed commitment to Alpine suggests a driver willing to shoulder long-term responsibility, even amid uncertainty. With new technical regulations set to reset the competitive order and Mercedes widely rumoured to be well positioned under the upcoming power unit rules, Gasly is gambling that patience will pay off.
For now, his ambitions remain firmly split between chasing success on track and quietly laying the groundwork for a future that may look very different from the one he knows today. If Lewis Hamilton has shown that an F1 driver can successfully blend elite performance with broader cultural influence, Pierre Gasly appears keen to follow a similarly expansive path when the time is right.
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