Alpine F1 has just announced their complete driver lineup for the 2023 Formula One season. Partnering with their current driver, Esteban Ocon will be Red Bull’s Pierre Gasly. It is still uncertain whether or not Gasly will maintain his relationship with Red Bull similar to what Alex Albon did when he signed with Williams.
Pierre Gasly made is F1 debut in 2017 when he had to take Daniil Kvyat’s place for the Malaysian Grand Prix. In 2018, he was given a full time seat at Toro Rosso alongside Brendon Hartley. He performed well, consistently outperforming Hartley. Red Bull decided to promote Gasly up to the main team for 2019, replacing Daniel Ricciardo who had chosen to move to Renault for 2019. Unfortunately, he failed to deliver good race results, especially when compared to his teammate, Max Verstappen. Red Bull then had to make a difficult decision, and after the summer break that year, Red Bull announced that Pierre Gasly would be replaced at Red Bull by Toro Rosso’s rookie, Alex Albon.
Unfortunately tragedy struck that same weekend when, in the Formula 2 sprint race on Saturday, Gasly’s childhood friend, Anthoine Hubert suffered a terrible crash and passed away from his injuries. Many people expected Gasly, Leclerc, and Ocon to possibly step away from the race on Sunday, but they chose to race in his honor instead. Charles Leclerc ended up winning and getting his first ever race win in Formula One.
After a rough season, it looked like all hope was lost for Gasly, and when they arrived in Brazil, no one had an inkling that Pierre Gasly would finish that race in a stunning P2. It was Toro Rosso’s second podium that year and was Gasly’s maiden podium. Then, in 2020, something extraordinary happened. At the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Pierre Gasly had the drive of his career. Starting in P10, he stormed up the field, and with a well timed pit stop, a safety car, and then a 10 second stop and go penalty for Lewis Hamilton, Gasly crossed the line and became a race winner. He brought Toro Rosso, newly rebranded to be Scuderia AlphaTauri, their first win since Sebastian Vettel in 2008 at the same track. The celebrations were magnificent with confetti in the national colors of Italy raining down upon the emotional French driver.
I am so excited to see what Pierre Gasly can accomplish with Alpine. It will be a completely French lineup in a French team, and will definitely be a team to watch next season. Congratulations Pierre!
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