ZANDVOORT, Netherlands – The media day for the Dutch Grand Prix on Thursday has been dominated by discussion around the remaining seats on the 2023 grid, with Pierre Gasly looking more and more like a big player in the driving market.
F1 is waiting for clarification from the contract recognition panel on whether Alpine or McLaren have valid contracts for Oscar Piastri’s services in 2023 but it’s clear Gasly and Daniel Ricciardo, who will leave McLaren at the end of the yearincluded in the mix for that chair regardless of the outcome.
Alpine, McLaren, Haas and Williams all have a seat to fill for next year.
Alpine talks with other drivers have been delayed due to waiting for clarification and that in turn delays decisions for other teams. Even if the CRB rules are in Alpine’s favor, there is a growing feeling that Piastri will not be running for the team because of how badly that relationship has been broken by the events of the past few months. During the Belgian Grand Prix, Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer took aim at Piastri, saying he Wish the Formula 2 champion more perfection.
If Alpine’s contract is upheld, the team will likely bid for McLaren to buy Piastri outside of his contract, although a deal with AlphaTauri for Gasly has also been suggested as an option.
Gasly has become a fascinating part of this whole equation. Although he has a central contract with Red Bull through 2023, which will keep him at AlphaTauri for another season, his place at the team is not far off. Christian Horner and Red Bull management do not see Gasly returning to the senior team and it is understood he will be allowed to leave if a team matches their asking price to buy him out of contract.
Leaving lightly will suit all parties, with American IndyCar driver Colton Herta reportedly moving to AlphaTauri if space becomes available. There are clear benefits to a team bringing Americans into the sport right now due to its exploding popularity, although Herta currently doesn’t have the 40 FIA super points needed to race in F1 and no can accumulate enough by the end of the season. . According to Motorsport.com, the FIA is looking into Herta’s super license credentials, with rules and exceptions around COVID-disrupted seasons potentially giving him a chance.
For Gasly, going elsewhere was his best option. Carlos Sainz’s career has flourished since he was out of the Red Bull driver show and Alex Albon is delivering stellar performances since getting a second chance with Williams – Career Outlook Gasly’s career would be so much better if he could do the same and forge his own path.
One obvious roadblock could be Gasly’s frosty relationship with his old childhood friend and French compatriot Esteban Ocon, who would be his teammate at Alpine.
Gasly commented on this Thursday, saying: “Obviously known each other for years, have great respect for each other as drivers, that’s always been the case. He’s a very fast driver and I think we both respect that.”
Ocon made clear his feelings about a desired teammate on Thursday during his press conference, saying his choice would be his friend Mick Schumacher.
“People know that my pick if I have anything to say would be Mick, if he doesn’t have anything to wait for next year,” Ocon said.
“First of all, he’s a good friend of mine. If I can help with that, that’s no problem. I think he’s also shown talent in the junior categories, he’s very fast.
“Sometimes in Formula One, it’s not easy to do with a car on the back foot. I had that when I started in F1. He’s a great guy and he can show off a lot. good if there is a competitive car and at the moment Alpine is competitive.”
Schumacher appears to be on his way out of Haas, having sunk the team deep and amassing a costly repair bill during his 18 months with the team. Schumacher, son of seven-time world champion Michael, will also lose his place in the Ferrari academy at the end of the season. While that could hurt his career prospects, it should ease his mind to move to Alpine, although it’s fair to question whether the performances he’s shown at Does F1 guarantee a second chance in a competitive midfield team.
Did a Ferrari video accidentally reveal Gasly’s plans?
During his communications mission ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, Gasly clarified something that gained traction on social media on Thursday. A Belgian Grand Prix review video posted by Ferrari features a brief scene with Gasly walking with Charles Leclerc and George Russell to the prerace drivers’ parade.
In it, Gasly is clearly heard saying: “I’m still working out the final details of the contract”, which many speculate could be an upbeat comment on an Alpine deal. However, Russell can also be heard saying “married” shortly before that, which Gasly asserts is the actual setting of the discussion.
When asked by ESPN about comments in the video, Gasly laughed and said: “If you guys have any opinions on the subject we’re talking about, you’ll probably laugh.
He added: “George was talking about marriage, or wedding things, so you probably know it’s not related to F1.”
What about Daniel Ricciardo?
When the Piastri story first unraveled over the summer break, Daniel Ricciardo seemed the most logical choice for Alpine, having raced for the team in 2019 and 2020. However, this is not a simple solution. simple that it seems on paper.
Ricciardo has announced his departure from Renault for McLaren (for 2021) in May 2020, between the lockdown and before F1’s shortened 2020 season even begins. It is understood that Renault CEO Luca de Meo is still frustrated with the way that situation has played out and there is a feeling within Alpine that Ricciardo has not spoken about the team in shining terms, although scored two podiums and finished fifth overall that season.
Ricciardo is ready to return, knowing that, if he finds his old form, an Alpine car could give him a chance to take on McLaren on the track in 2023. However, speaking on Thursday. , he’s clearly increasingly open to the idea of a vacation if it means returning next year, given the limited practical options available at this point.
The eight-time race winner is not ruling out the option to become a reserve driver for a team next season, which could open up his many options for 2024. Even with struggles over In recent form, Ricciardo would be an incredible backup for a team. to call, and that situation could get him a spot at a team like Mercedes or Ferrari. Notably, Lewis Hamilton has yet to sign a contract after 2023 with Mercedes so that’s obvious
It’s hard to read Riccio’s mood right now. He is doing a great job of bravely facing what is an awkward and uncomfortable situation. Sergio Perez’s recent career change should give Ricciardo some hope that he can get back to the top end of the grid with the right move. Perez, who was one of the drivers to Australia after his split from McLaren was confirmed, looks set to leave F1 at the end of 2020, only to take a seat with a Red Bull team now fighting for victory. every week.
Haas and Williams
Haas boss Guenther Steiner is in no hurry to confirm who will be Kevin Magnussen’s teammate next year, with a name like Ricciardo still on the market.
“We’re monitoring the situation with Mick and see what’s going on,” Steiner said on Thursday. “We’re in no hurry – anyway why do we need to decide now? If we decide now and make the wrong decision, we’ll regret it.”
Haas is giving Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi two training appearances in Monza and Austin, seen by many as the team that prepares him for a potential role in the race with the team in 2023. Giovinazzi , who has raced with Alfa Romeo for three seasons, is not the most inspiring pick but he will represent a steady and reliable arm for the team.
Williams has been even more silent about their plans for Nicholas Latifi’s seat. Formula E driver Nyck de Vries is a contender, as is American Formula 2 driver Logan Sargeant, who won a race in the feeder series earlier this year. While the team is excited about Sargeant’s potential, there are concerns that an immediate upgrade might be too early for the Floridian driver, who will be competing in his first practice session for the team at the US Grand Prix. in October. That appearance seems like the perfect time to announce the Sergeant for 2023 if that’s the way the team is going.
