Alpine have announced Pierre Gasly will drive for the team in 2023 F1 season, whilst Nyck De Vries will replace Gasly at AlphaTauri.
Gasly first arrived in F1 in late 2017 with Toro Rosso and has since driven for the team across the last five seasons – albeit after a mid-season swap following his demotion from Red Bull in 2019 due to poor results but has since claimed one podium in each of last three seasons for the junior team.
One of those podiums came at Monza in 2020 as he claimed a shock victory following a dramatic race for the front-running teams.
Gasly though is now ready for a fresh challenge away from the Red Bull environment and will now drive for Alpine from next season, alongside his French compatriot – Esteban Ocon in an all French driver line-up for the French constructor.
Speaking about his decision to join Alpine and replace Fernando Alonso who is moving to Aston Martin, Gasly commented: “I am delighted to join the Alpine family and begin this new chapter in my Formula 1 career.
“Driving for a team that has French roots is something very special. I know the strengths of Alpine having raced against them over the past couple of years and, clearly, their progress and ambition is very impressive.”
Gasly also acknowledged Red Bull and AlphaTauri for their support since he joined their junior programme in December 2013, as he added: “I wish to thank Red Bull as this marks the end of our 9-year journey together.
“It is thanks to their trust and support that I became a Formula 1 driver, and what we’ve achieved with Scuderia AlphaTauri over the last years has been very special.”
Looking ahead to next season, Gasly has vowed to “give the maximum and utilise all my experience to fight for podiums and ultimately contribute to Alpine’s fight for championships in the future.”
Alpine Team Principal, Otmar Szafnauer added that he and the team are “very happy” to sign Gasly who he believes is “a proven talent” on the grid, and can’t wait to benefit from his experience in order for the team to achieve various objectives in coming seasons.
AlphaTauri Team Principal, Franz Tost meanwhile issed the following statement addressing Gasly’s departure at end of season: “Scuderia AlphaTauri had a very successful time with Pierre. We will never forget his fantastic victory in Monza and his podium finishes in Brazil and Azerbaijan.
“I want to thank Pierre for all the effort he’s put into the team in the last years, and I wish him all the best for his future.”
AlphaTauri meanwhile have confirmed that Mercedes’ Reserve Driver, Nyck de Vries will replace Gasly and race alongside Yuki Tsunoda next season.
De Vries’ move comes just weeks after he made his F1 debut as a substitute for Alex Albon at Williams and finished ninth on his debut at Italian Grand Prix.
“I’m extremely excited to be joining Scuderia AlphaTauri for 2023” commented the 2020-21 Formula E champion as he thanked both the team and Red Bull for giving him the seat.
Reflecting on his alternative path to F1 after winning 2019 F2 title, de Vries commented: “After Formula 2, I took a slightly different path with motorsport, but F1 has always been my dream and I’m grateful to be able to fulfil it.”
De Vries has already conducted FP1 running for Mercedes, Aston Martin and Williams on top of a race appearance for the latter so believes that he is “in a great position” to adapt quickly next season.
Tost is “pleased” to welcome de Vries to AlphaTauri as he praised the Dutchman for his qualities as a racing driver, as he said: “He is a very high skilled driver, as he won in all the categories he competed in, with many races and championships under his belt.
“His last big success was winning the Formula E World Championship, and this is clear evidence that he is a very competitive driver, who deserves a seat in F1. I am looking forward to seeing him in our car and I’m confident that with Yuki and Nyck we will have a very strong driver line up for 2023.”
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