OFFICIAL: Pierre Gasly commits to Alpine

It's the end of the paddock's worst kept secret. This Saturday morning at 9 a.m. in Japan – at 2 a.m. in France – Alpine formalized the buyout of the last year of the contract Red Bull de Pierre Gasly, which was linked to Alpha Tauri until 2023. The Norman has in fact signed up with the French team from 2023 and for several years, after five seasons spent in the Red Bull fold in Formula 1.

Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly (here surrounded by Laurent Red, CEO ofAlpine, and Otmar Szafnauer, team principal) will team up from 2023. © Alpine

“First of all, it’s a real career choice and an extremely exciting transition, the Norman told us during a round table. I am closing a nine-year history with Red Bull. It's a chapter that closes and a new adventure that begins. Join Alpine, I see it as taking off on my own, after so many moments lived in the Red Bull house. It’s an adventure that I really want. I strongly believe in their project. »

Gasly – Ocon, 100% French team

The Habs, who were to stay with AlphaTauri in 2023, took advantage of the surprise departure of Fernando Alonso toward Aston Martin, and the refusal toOscar piastri to pilot for Alpine – after the Australian signed with McLaren – to establish itself as the ideal recourse for the stable ofenstone. As Like Carlos Sainz before him in 2018, the Habs, who knew they had no future at Red Bull after the extension of Sergio Perez and the episode of his first six months of 2019 within Team A, managed to free himself from the Red Bull family, who had supported him since 2014 and his Formula years Renault.

At Alpine, he will find an old acquaintance in the person of Esteban Ocon, his old friend from karting with whom the relationship was subsequently refreshed. The two men will constitute a pair of 100% French, and even 100% Norman, drivers for a brand founded and based in Dieppe (76).

At 26 years old and more than 100 career starts each, the last two French winners in F1 are adults, mature, intelligent and will undoubtedly represent Alpine and Renault at the highest level, putting their quarrels aside. In any case, this is the bet made by the management ofAlpine.

« We are proud to field a 100% French duo from 2023, greeted Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault Group. Our roots are in France, Alpine was born in Normandy like our pilots, so there is a certain serendipity to it all. Both will move the team and the Group forward to hopefully become a symbol of pride for France. »

« I welcome Pierre to the family Alpine, added Laurent Rossi, CEO of the brand at A Fléché. He is a talented and motivated driver who will contribute positively to the achievement of our objectives in Formula 1. Pierre is completely aligned with the ambition and progression that marked the project Alpine so far. As a young, but highly experienced and successful driver, his trajectory follows ours and we look forward to growing together. »

« I am very happy to see Pierre join us for 2023 and beyond, concluded team principal Otmar Szafnauer. He has already proven himself in Formula 1 and we look forward to harnessing his full talent within the team. Our team has several goals for the coming seasons and I firmly believe that our driver duo perfectly reflects our high ambitions. I hope that Pierre and Esteban can, together, motivate the team to continue progressing towards these objectives. We would also like to thank Red Bull for agreeing to the terms allowing Pierre to take this step ».

Gasly and Ocon will form a 100% French duo at Alpine from 2023 / © Alpine F1 Team

As also anticipated for several weeks, the Frenchman will be replaced at AlphaTauri by Nyck De Vries, author of his notable debut in F1 with Williams near Monza in September. 

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