Williams empty-handed in knock-on effect of Fernando Alonso’s bombshell move
Fernando Alonso leaving Alpine caught everyone o🐎ff guard - including the French team itself.
His switch for next season has had a significant knock-on effect on the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:rest of the driver market.
Shortly after Alonso’s move was announced, 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Alpine announced the promotion of Osca♋r Piastri for 2023 alongside Esteban Ocon.
Piastri then posted on social media that he wouldn’t be driving for Alpine next year, stating that he had found a drive elsewhere, likely to be M👍cLaren.
While Alpine, McLaren and Daniel Ricciardo have dominated the media headlines as a result of last week’s mayhem, one team that has been affected as a result is Wi𝓀lliams.
It is understood that Alpine wanted to keep Alonso for one more year while placing Piastri at Williams alon🌸gside Alex Albon.
Alpine wanted to bed Piastri into F▨1 by placing him in a less competitive team, like Mercedes did with George Russell.
However, Alonso’s move to Aston Martin has changed𒊎 everything, leading to knock-on effects up and down the paddock.
Williams needs to find a teammate forꦡ Albon - but 🎀who are the candidates?
Who will take the second Williams seat?
Current driver Nichol🐷as Latifi remains a pote🍷ntial option.
The Canadian brings much-needed sponsorship to the te🤡am but he remains the only driver on the grid not to 💫score a point this season.
Also, Latifi appears to have taken a step back in outright performance this year as he’s been dominated by Albon in the opening 13 races of 💃2022.
Wi🍸lliams have Logan Sargeant as part of their junior academy.
The Americ💛an has impressed in F2, sitting third in the championship behind Felipe Drugovich (who 💝has no F1 affiliation) and Theo Pourchaire (Sauber academy).
However, team boss Jost Capito has hinted that 2023 might be too ear🃏ly for Sargeant despite his impressive season for Carlin.
Reigning Formula E champion and current Mercedes reserve driver Nyck d🙈e Vries remains in the frame having been linked with Williams last year but Albon got the seat instead.
De Vries is looking to find a drive in a motorsport series next year a♋s Mercedes are pulling out of Formula E.
An alternative option that would tick a lot 💫of boxes for 🥃Williams would be Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu.
Not only does Zhou bring significant financial backing from China, he’s performed solidly during h🔥is rookie season.
Despite his minimal points 🐷total, in recent races, Zhou has run Valtteri Bottas close and would be an upgrade on Latifi.
More importantly, d💛espite his lack of experience, Zhou hasn’t had too many shunts - something Latifi has done frequently o🌊ver the past 12 months.
But, with Alfa Romeo significantly ahead of Williams 🤡in the F1 pecking order, it’s unlikely Zhou would want to switch unless he’s guaranteed a multi-year deal or Alfa opt to promote Pourchaire.
Whoever Williams put alongside Albon for 2023, it’s likely to be a downgrade on thei༒r first choice - Piastri.
With a sharp eye for F1’s controversies and storylines, Connor is the heartbeatꦫ of our unbiased reporting.
