Alpine won’t rush F1 2023 driver decision as new names enter the running

Alpine are in no rush to decide on who will replace Fernando Alonso as Esteban Ocon’s new teammate for the 2023 F1 season.
Alpine won’t rush F1 2023 driver decision as new names enter the running

The French manufacturer have unexpectedly been left with a vacated seat to fill for 2023 in the wake of 168澳洲幸运5官方开🎉奖结果历史:Alo𒉰nso’s shock switch to Aston Martin for next season, a move which was confirmed at the start of August.&n🌌bsp;

Alpine announced their reserve driver Oscar Piastri would be promoted but the 2021 F2 champion denied he had signed to race for the team, who went on to 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:lose a cont♉ract battle with ꧃McLaren for his services. 

Remote video URL

Speaking in an interview with the , Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi stressed the team will take their time over a decision.&𝔉nbsp;

“We don’t want to rush into the decision,” said Rossi. “It’s a process Otmar [Szafnauer, Alpine 🌠team principal] is leading, as he knows💮 what is best for the team. 

“We take input from our engineers. The dr🗹iver is important, but the car is the most important by far.”

Pierre Gasly (FRA) AlphaTauri AT03. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 14, Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort, Netherlands,
Pierre Gasly (FRA) AlphaTauri AT03. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 14, Dutch Grand Prix,…

Szafnauer previously revealed Alpine have a 𓆏shortlist of 14 drivers the♔y are considering to fill the seat. 

AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly is understood to be Alpine’ဣs preferred choice, but thꦜe move to race in F1. 

Red Bull iꦕs willing to release Gasly from his contract to join Alpine if they can replace the Frenchman with IndyCar frontrunner Herta at AlphaTauri. 

Herta is🌃 being lined up for a private test with Alpine at the Hungaroring in the co🧸ming weeks at the request of Red Bull. 

Alpine are also set to evaluate Nyck de Vries at the test. The 27-year-old Dutchman starred on his F1 debut with Williams at the Italian Grand Prix as part of a last-minute call-up to replace Alex Albon, who was ruled out with appendicit🌱is. 

Nyck de Vries (NLD) Williams Racing Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 16, Italian Grand Prix, Monza, Italy, Race Day.-
Nyck de Vries (NLD) Williams Racing Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 16, Italian Grand Prix,…

After de Vries comprehensively out-performed team🎶mate Nicholas Latifi on his way to scoring points with a superb drive to ninth, Williams are facing competition from Alpine to sign the 2020-2021 Formula E champion for next season✃. 

Rossi also confirmed that F2 frontrunner✱ Jack Doohan is under conside𓄧ration for a 2023 Alpine F1 seat. 

💎Alpine’s preference is to go for an experienced F1 driver to replace A𒁏lonso, but F2 race-winner Doohan, who is part of the Alpine Academy, is also in the frame. 

The 19-year-old Australian, the son of motorcycle legend Mi♒ck Doohan, sits fourth in the F2 championship heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi after claiming thre♎e victories in his rookie campaign. 

Da🍨niel Ricciardo has also been linked with a ꩵpotential return to Enstone following the early termination of his McLaren contract. 

Meanwhile, Ocon has publicly backed close fri🌞end a🌠nd current Haas driver Mick Schumacher for the seat. 

(L to R): Laurent Rossi (FRA) Alpine Chief Executive Officer with Otmar Szafnauer (USA) Alpine F1 Team, Team Principal and
(L to R): Laurent Rossi (FRA) Alpine Chief Executive Officer with Otmar Szafnauer (USA) Alpine…

“We need someone who helps develop the team, who helps develop the car,” said Rossi. “We need a seasoned e൲nough, effective enough driver who will score points right away and also take the team up with him. These are criteria we are looking at.

“There are plenty of good ones. [Red Bull Motorsport Adviser] Helmut [Marko] mentioned Pierre – why wouldn’t you? He’s a very good driver,ꦯ he would be a good candidate for us.

“You mentioned Jack, he’s a consideration. Despite what we said about the Academy, we believe in him, he’s🧸 shown a lot potential, especially lately – talk about being present at the right moment. 

"He’s a great person, he is fast, his father is also a champion I admire and a p🧔erson I admire. They are great guys. He’s in our plans. One way or another we will try and put him in an F1 car at some point. But then again, once ꦅbitten, twice shy.”

Asked for a timeframe on when Alpine expects to ma💫ke a final call, Rossi responded: “We will see what the landscap൩e is by the end of September. We will have more clarity on all options. By then, I assume we will make a choice.”

Read More