Twist of the screw: Gasly has become a candidate to replace Fernando Alonso in Alpine. And, in something even more unexpected, IndyCar star Colton Herta is linked to AlphaTauri.
Publicly, Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer insists the Enstone outfit will not think of other drivers until the Contract Recognition Board decides on Monday who owns Oscar Piastri.
However, Motorsport.com sources suggest that the French have already indicated to Red Bull their interest in Gasly.
On June 24, the Frenchman was confirmed with AlphaTauri for 2023, so whoever wants to sign him will have to agree with the structure of energy drinks and inevitably face a substantial payment.
Although he is obviously seen as a valued member of AlphaTauri, the Faenza team is supposed to provide future drivers for the ‘A’ team, Red Bull.
Pierre Gasly had his chance in 2019 before being sent back to AlphaTauri, and it has become clear that director Christian Horner does not contemplate a future return of the 26-year-old to the main team.
In such a scenario, Red Bull could be open to letting Gasly go if the terms of a possible deal were favourable, and if he could find a good replacement for the remaining vacant position at AlphaTauri.
Some sources have indicated that Helmut Marko is looking at Mick Schumacher, who is likely to leave Haas.
Mick’s move to AlphaTauri would mean there would be a big-name German in the Red Bull camp before Porsche’s arrival on the grid in 2026.
However, it has also emerged that Marko is interested in Andretti Autosport IndyCar driver Colton Herta, who also has a contract with McLaren. Interestingly, on Saturday afternoon at Spa-Francorchamps the Red Bull Motorsport boss was seen speaking to McLaren CEO Zak Brown .
One obvious issue is that Herta currently does not have a super license that would allow it to race in Formula 1 in 2023.
But if the FIA allows an exception and McLaren releases Herta, Gasly would be free to move to Alpine, in turn taking some pressure off McLaren over the Oscar Piastri situation.
Even if Herta is unable to race in 2023 and Gasly remains at AlphaTauri, the American could join the Red Bull project as a test driver with a view to future promotion for 2024.
A tricky issue in any Alpine deal is that Gasly has an uneasy relationship with Esteban Ocon, his potential teammate.
In the event that both Piastri and Gasly are unavailable, Alpine could be left without candidates to accompany the Frenchman.
Although Daniel Ricciardo is an obvious choice, the Australian upset the Renault leadership when he left for McLaren after just two seasons with the team in 2019 and 2020. However, that situation did not appear to be a deal breaker, and so the smiling current McLaren driver could go home.
Aston Martin reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg, who drove for Renault in 2018 and 2019, is another possibility. The German, who has raced for Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer , at Force India, Racing Point and Aston Martin, has a good reputation.
He would also agree to a one-year deal, thus freeing up a seat for anyone else who might become available in 2023, including the aforementioned Gasly.
Mick Schumacher and Mercedes Formula E driver Nyck de Vries are also eyeing seats for 2023, while Sauber /Alfa Romeo junior Theo Pourchaire could also be a bet, giving Alpine a chance to line up. another young Frenchman along with Esteban Ocon.
Ocon signaled on Thursday at Spa that he would be happy with any teammate they put on him.
“In the end it doesn’t matter who’s by my side,” he said. “I’m going to keep up the work I’m doing now with my team, continue to understand the car and the progress we’ve made since I joined the team in 2020. Which has been huge.
“And of course, I am a very different driver than I was, I know much more now about the team, the car, and how to use the machine that I have in my hands.”
“And yes, I am happy with what is happening. I insist, whoever is next to me next year, I will continue to do the work that I am doing, and as long as I am happy with the performance, and with how it is going, There will be no need for anything to change or worry about the other side.”
However, he admitted that he would like his friend Mick Schumacher to get the job: “It’s not my decision. But yes, I would be very happy to work with Mick. He’s a good friend of mine. So it’s up to the team to decide, not I. But yeah, if it ended like this, it would be a great trip for sure.”
