Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri, Singapore, 2022

Gasly expects news on future in “two to three weeks” amid Alpine speculation

2022 Singapore Grand Prix

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Pierre Gasly says he expects to confirm who he will drive for next year within the next two or three weeks.

The AlphaTauri driver confirmed earlier this year he is contracted to AlphaTauri until the end of the 2023 Formula 1 season. However Red Bull is believed to be considering an early release for its long-time junior driver to join Alpine.

A vacancy opened up at Alpine after its first two drivers in line to partner Esteban Ocon next year left to join other teams. Fernando Alonso moved to Aston Martin while reserve driver Oscar Piastri signed a deal with McLaren.

Gasly spent half a year at Red Bull’s top team before being relegated back to the squad which is now AlphaTauri. With Sergio Perez confirmed alongide Max Verstappen at Red Bull for the next two years, Gasly’s best chance of progressing may lie at another team, and Red Bull appear willing to let him leave.

Last week AlphaTauri announced Gasly’s current team mate Yuki Tsunoda will remain with them in 2023. However the team made no mention of a role for Gasly next year, despite his contract having been announced previously.

Speaking in the FIA press conference in Singapore today, Gasly said confirmation of his future plans will come soon.

“Obviously everybody knows there are ongoing conversations and discussions,” he acknowledged. “But from my part I think hopefully in the next two or three weeks we should have a clear answer on my future.

“So far nothing has changed and when there will be something confirmed on my future I’m sure you guys will know about it.”

Gasly finished ninth in the championship last year with 110 points. But the team’s competitiveness has slumped in 2022 and he has just 22 points so far this season. He admitted team principal Franz Tost has been “a bit grumpy this year” as the team have struggled.

“He’s not so happy, like all of us, with how this season is going,” said Gasly. “But I think it’s just important to stay positive and still be constructive until the end of the year.

“It’s obviously insignificant for some people when you’re fighting for seventh place in the teams’ championship but you are talking still about a lot of money for next season.”

AlphaTauri lie eighth in the championship, one point behind Haas and 19 off sixth-placed Alfa Romeo, both of which they have outscored over the last five races. Gasly said their goal is to pass those two teams before the end of the year.

“That’s clearly the target at least to get Haas and Alfa, 19 points. Considering we have only 33 points after 16 races that’s a lot to ask but nothing is impossible, we’ve seen it in the past.

“We just need one really strong result and it will be possible. Definitely Haas, we’ve got to get them, and then we’ll see coming to Abu Dhabi what we are fighting for.”

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2022 Singapore Grand Prix

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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7 comments on “Gasly expects news on future in “two to three weeks” amid Alpine speculation”

  1. Why do people still unnecessarily emphasize the lack of Gasly mention in the Tsunoda announcement, even though the reason is rather clearly the separate June announcement?
    Teams generally don’t mention a teammate by name in single-driver announcements, so nothing unusual in this regard.

  2. Alpine should prioritise team harmony instead of going for a full on, politically motivated Oui Oui Baguette line-up that is likely to cause an implosion.

  3. Well Alpine will certainly be a team the DtS cameras will want to be around next season if Gasly joins the team. The reports are that him and Ocon really can’t stand each other at all. Fireworks on and off the track is what I am expecting. How is Otmar going to manage that realtionship?

    1. @g-funk People unnecessarily emphasize something that happened in non-pro racing in 2009 or forever ago in racing terms. Pretty trivial in a pro racing series & since drivers generally can’t choose their teammates, getting along is necessary, if ever in the same team. Professionally, at least.
      Besides, Ocon has indicated he’d be okay with having Gasly as his teammate.

  4. The real key for alpine like all team driver choices is whether he has the same driving style as ocon. If he does then they’ll get a podium or two in two years time and that’s their ceiling, the best they can hope for.

  5. Leave f1 please, please.

  6. My preference would be
    1) Danny Ric to get a one year deal at Alpine for 2023,
    2) Alpine agreeing an option over Gasly for 2024

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