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Pierre Gasly forms an all-French line-up with Esteban Ocon at Alpine in 2023, while Nyck de Vries earns his first F1 seat at AlphaTauri in the latest grid shake-up…next season
- Pierre Gasly leaves AlphaTauri to join Alpine in the 2023 season
- He will now be part of an all-French lineup alongside Esteban Ocon at Alpine
- Meanwhile, Nyck de Vries has his first F1 seat at AlphaTauri. got
- There are now only two spots left on the grid to fill for next season
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Pierre Gasly has swapped AlphaTauri for Alpine to form an all-French lineup in the latest upheaval of the Formula 1 grid for 2023.
Gasly, 26, has filled the seat of Fernando Alonso, who is leaving for Aston Martin in the summer, for a multi-year deal, which will allow Nyck de Vries to claim his first F1 seat at AlphaTauri.
It leaves just two spots – Williams and Haas – unconfirmed for 2023, with both Mick Schumacher, the current incumbent at Haas, and McLaren star Daniel Ricciardo sweating over their future on the grid.
Pierre Gasly leaves AlphaTauri to join Alpine for 2023 Formula 1 season
Gasly will form an all-French lineup with Esteban Ocon (pictured above) at Alpine
“Riding for a team with French roots is something very special,” said Gasly.
“I know the strengths of Alpine racing against them in recent years and it is clear that their progress and ambition is very impressive.
“I want to give the maximum and use all my experience to fight for podiums and ultimately contribute to Alpine’s fight for championships in the future.”
Gasly, a one-time running mate of Max Verstappen at Red Bull, is helping deliver the first all-French lineup in F1 since 1995 when Eric Bernard and Christophe Bouchut raced for Larrousse.
“We were just two little kids from Normandy with an impossible dream,” Ocon tweeted. “Welcome to the Alpine Pierrot family, let’s make our team and our country proud.”
De Vries, who had served as reserve driver, increased his stock immeasurably as a late replacement for Alex Albon at Williams and claimed ninth place in his first F1 appearance.
The 27-year-old Dutchman has taken an unorthodox route to F1, but has bid his time and now gets his chance to team up with Yuki Tsunoda in 2023.
“After Formula 2 I took a slightly different path with motorsport, but F1 has always been my dream and I am grateful that I can make it come true.
Nyck de Vries has claimed his first F1 seat and will drive for AlphaTauri next season
“I’ve had a lot of opportunities this year to experience the 2022 car and I think that puts me in a great position for the coming season. I hope this has helped prepare me for what’s to come.”
The fallout from these two driver moves means that both Schumacher and Ricciardo are scrambling to secure the remaining two spots on the 2023 grid.
Haas is believed to be targeting former Renault driver Nico Hulkenberg and after Schumacher crashed in first practice on Friday, his chances of snagging the Williams seat are still more questionable.
Daniel Ricciardo’s future remains uncertain as he prepares to say goodbye to McLaren