a departure clause in Gasly’s contract?
Extended next season at Alpha Tauri, the Norman driver would benefit from a clause allowing him to sign in favor of a more upscale team, like Alpine.
And if Alpine appeared on the starting line with a 100% tricolor tandem next year? Since the imbroglio Oscar Piastri, who denied taking the seat left in the future by Fernando Alonso, leaving for Alpine, the tricolor team finds itself without a driver to accompany Esteban Ocon on the grid in 2023.
Read alsoFormula 1: seven questions to understand the mess at Alpine with the departure of Alonso
While the candidates are not legion, a hypothesis enough to make French Formula 1 fans salivate. Already extended for the next season at Alpha Tauri, Pierre Gasly is sometimes cited as a contender for the second seat in the French stable. The reason ? According to the specialized site racingnews365 the Norman would benefit from a clause in his contract allowing him to sign in a team ranked higher than Alpha Tauri in the constructors’ ranking.
Read alsoPiastri, Ricciardo, Drugovich… The tracks to succeed Fernando Alonso at Alpine
Ricciardo favorite to recover a seat at Alpine
Fourth in the standings, Alpine is naturally more competitive than the Italian Scuderia, little sister of the Red Bull team where Gasly is desperate to have a second chance since his complicated half-season in 2019. Since then, the 26-year-old driver has proven his talents on the track, picking up his first victory in September 2020 (Monza) as well as three podiums. However, these difficulties this season have pushed him back in the hierarchy, and it remains uncertain whether Alpine will look into his case.
Read alsoFormula 1: Piastri would have signed a pre-contract with McLaren several weeks ago
For now, the favorite to replace Alonso is none other than Daniel Ricciardo. Renault driver in 2019 and 2020 before slamming the door for McLaren, the Australian knows he is in great danger next season. Multiple sources report an agreement already tied up between the British team and… his compatriot Oscar Piastri. Since then, the « Honey Badger », in difficulty with the orange papaya team, has already reconnected with Alpine.
