Gasly Says F1 Splits Into Two Leagues
Alpine driver Pierre Gasly says a wide gap separates the top four teams from the rest of the Formula 1 field this season.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Motorsports
Pierre Gasly said Formula 1 is operating as two leagues after the new regulations introduced this year created a major gap between the top four teams and the rest of the field. He added that Alpine must do a better job closing the performance gap.
Why it matters
The split follows a season that was among the closest in the sport's history, and it raises questions about whether the new regulation cycle will reshape competitive order. Gasly's comments put pressure on Alpine to narrow its deficit to the leading teams.
The standings show a major gap between fourth and fifth place, a sharp contrast to the 2025 season, which was among the closest ever seen in the sport. The source does not quantify the gap in points or lap time.
The players
Pierre Gasly
Pierre Gasly is a French Formula 1 driver racing for Alpine, and he offered the assessment that the sport is operating as two leagues.
Alpine
Alpine is the Formula 1 team Gasly drives for, and it is under pressure to close the performance gap to the leading teams.
The details
McLaren and Ferrari have each won races this season, Red Bull and Max Verstappen are back in competition, and Mercedes remains very competitive. Gasly's assessment is that the new regulations have produced two distinct tiers in the field.
Timeline
2025: The last season under the previous regulation cycle, among the closest ever in Formula 1.
2026: New F1 regulations introduced, creating a split in the competitive order.
Season Trajectory
The 2026 season marks a departure from the 2025 campaign, which was among the closest in Formula 1 history under the previous regulations. The new rules have produced a split in the order that Gasly says places the sport in two tiers.
Fantasy and betting outlooks for Formula 1 depend on whether the gap between the top four teams and the rest of the field persists. Fans following Alpine should track whether the team narrows that gap in the coming races.
The takeaway
The new regulations have created an early divide in Formula 1, but the sport's history suggests gaps tend to narrow as teams reach the limits of each cycle. Readers should expect the field to tighten over the next one to two years.
Further reading
For more on the competitive order in the sport, see Motorsports.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RacingNews365.
