From the racetrack to the catwalk, Pierre Gasly signs his capsule with AlphaTauri

Born in 2016 as an offshoot of the stable of the same name, clothing brand AlphaTauri has opened its first flagship store on British soil in London, a chance to enter the premium fashion brand's philosophy. Located on Brompton Road, in the Knightsbridge district, and designed by Studio Riebenbauer, the store aims to be an immersive experience inside the AlphaTauri world and its latest collections. It is here that we met Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda, drivers of the team that bears the brand's name and in a way ambassadors of this unexpected marriage between fashion and Formula 1. «I think they are two worlds capable of finding a meeting point,» Gasly told us. «In a way, F1 drivers are like artists. When we go out on the track, driving a car at 350 km/h, we need to be creative in driving, to have a preparation that allows us to give the best of ourselves, something that can also be found in the world of fashion.»

«Many drivers are always dressed in their racing clothes,» Tsunoda continued. «Fans always imagine us in that look, whereas fashion is how we drivers can bring out another side, a characteristic of our personalities.» Lewis Hamilton and George Russell represent a perfect example of this discourse. Teammates at Mercedes, the two drivers have two completely different clothing styles, a perfect mirror of their personalities that would otherwise remain hidden under the bulky driver uniforms. The relationship between sports and fashion is also the apex of the Pierre Gasly Knit Capsule, the collection designed together with the French driver who is thus able to bring his personal touch inside the four items that make up the capsule. Made of 100 percent merino wool, the two designs - a crew neck and a turtleneck - are available in two different colors and stem from Gasly's passion for knitwear. «I've always had an interest in fashion, but it's a bit of a closed industry,» the driver said to tell about his collection. «It actually started as a kind of joke. 'Oh Pierre, you love fashion, let's make a collection someday,' but for me, it wasn't a joke, I thought, 'That's really what I want, I want to have a balance in my life between racing and my interests outside F1, so that I'm able to alternate and be very focused when I need to be, but also creative and enjoy my other interests outside the track.»

Instead, the inspiration, the pilot tells us, comes from the everyday. From Fashion Weeks, which Gasly now regularly attends, but also from his closet and what he learned during his still brief experience in the fashion industry. «I've always liked sweaters, I've always liked wearing them. Although at the beginning we explored various possibilities for the collection, to do something bigger and broader,» the French driver recounted talking about the genesis of his capsule that, in the future, could expand to other garments. Future that, according to Pierre Gasly, could see him divide his time between the wheel of his single-seater and the world of fashion: «For now, my main goal is to become Formula One world champion, but as I said, I am the kind of person who needs balance. Fashion is one of my major interests outside of Formula One. It is a world in which I learn more every day. With AlphaTauri, new doors have opened for me, and the whole design process for me has been one of the most fun experiences I've ever had.»