The team confirmed on Saturday that French driver Pierre Gasly will quit Alpha Tauri to take Fernando Alonso’s spot at Alpine for the next season. Gasly will be replaced at Alpha Tauri by the Dutchman Nyck de Vries, who made his Formula One debut when filling in for Williams’ Alex Albon at the Italian Grand Prix last month. Gasly will start with fellow countryman Esteban Ocon at Alpine after joining the Red Bull stable following his 2017 Formula One debut with Toro Rosso.
The 26-year-old Gasly described joining the French squad, which is vying with McLaren for fourth place in the constructors’ championship this season, as “emotionally extremely special.”
Gasly, whose sole Formula One victory came at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, remarked, “What encouraged me was the evolution of Alpine over the previous three years, their performance consistently growing.”
“Last year, they took first place, and they’ve been battling to be the fourth force this year. They are a whole package with goals that are identical to mine.”
The Hungarian Grand Prix was won by Ocon last year, giving Alpine its first race triumph.
When Sebastian Vettel, a four-time world champion, retires, Alonso, 41, will fill the void left by Vettel’s departure by joining Aston Martin on a multi-year contract.
Gasly expressed his “happiness and impatience” to begin working with Alpine.
In his opinion, the most crucial factor for a driver is to be in a vehicle that gives them the best possible opportunity to display their skills.
I believe I will have the best chance of succeeding with Alpine.
De Vries, who finished 13th at the Italian Grand Prix in place of Albon, who had appendicitis, will take Gasly’s spot at Alpha Tauri.
The 27-year-old, a two-time Formula Two and Formula E world champion, expressed his “great excitement” about joining Alpha Tauri.
De Vries added, “I think it has put me in a terrific position for the future season. I’ve got a lot of chances to feel the 2022 vehicle this year.
“I hope this has helped prepare me for what is to come.”
