The announcement that Pierre Gasly will remain with Alpine - on what is described as a new multi-year deal, thus presumably taking the partnership into the new rules' era in 2026 - is a much-needed piece of unequivocally good news for the beleaguered team.

While always likely to stay on, Gasly had been shopping around and was regarded by Audi as a credible option until recently - so it wasn't a foregone conclusion.

Amid the controversy of Flavio Briatore’s appointment, on-track struggles that are now at least easing with its recent run of points, the departure of key technical personnel earlier in the season and confirming it would part company with Esteban Ocon, to have not been able to hold onto Gasly would have been carelessness on a par with the great driver market disaster of 2022 when Alpine managed to lose both Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri.