Rumor: de Vries to take Gasly’s seat at AlphaTauri (2nd Update)

(GMM) Nyck de Vries has signed up to make his full Formula 1 debut next year with Red Bull’s second team Alpha Tauri.

That is the claim from the verge of the Singapore GP of the French broadcaster Canal Plus, reporting that the move will see team incumbent Pierre Gasly move over to Alpine.

Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, who met with de Vries in Austria recently following the Dutchman’s impressive F1 debut with Williams at Monza, is not denying it.

“Gasly still has a contract with Alpha Tauri until 2023,” he told the Austrian broadcaster ORF. “But it’s no secret that Alpine is very interested in getting him for next year.

“We’re having talks, that’s true. I think it would be very good for Alpine, but it must not be to the detriment of Alpha Tauri.

“If there is a solution that satisfies both sides, then we will not keep a driver like Pierre. He is French, it is a big step for him and a dream that would come true for him.

“But it has to fit for us as well.”

Marko initially wanted to replace Gasly with IndyCar star Colton Herta, but the American did not qualify for a mandatory super license.

De Vries, however, may be an acceptable ‘plan B’.

When asked about his recent visit in his Graz office with 27-year-old de Vries, Marko said: “Apparently you can’t go anywhere anymore.

“As I said, it must be beneficial to both parties. If we were to release Pierre from his contract then we would need a replacement, and that’s why we had a conversation with Nyck de Vries.”

As for de Vries, he has also confirmed his recent meeting with Marko.

“Monza was a great weekend for me,” he told Viaplay in Singapore, where he was once again on standby for Williams regular Alex Albon.

“A lot of news was made about it, which is welcome of course,” de Vries added.

“It’s no secret that I went to Austria and that I did a test with Alpine. I have nothing more for you than that.”

Marko said the uncertainty should all be over “by Suzuka” next weekend.

Our sources say that before the Singapore GP, Pierre Gasly will be announced as being signed by the Alpine F1 team, and Nyck de Vries will be announced as Gasly’s replacement at Alpha Tauri.

Last Updated September 22, 2022

(GMM) Colton Herta’s Formula 1 dream is over for now after Red Bull gave up its push to secure a mandatory super license for the American star of IndyCar racing.

“We’re proceeding without Herta,” Auto Bild quoted Dr Helmut Marko as confirming, amid reports the FIA refused to give the 22-year-old an exemption to F1’s strict points-based license rules.

“It’s a shame the FIA didn’t recognize the value of an American driver in Formula 1,” the Austrian added, “especially with three F1 races in the booming American market.”

On the face of it, it’s also bad news for Pierre Gasly – as Red Bull only intended to release the Frenchman from his 2023 duties at Alpha Tauri if Herta got the green light.

However, Marko may be leaving the exit door open for Gasly, who is keen to move on after a long formative F1 career under the Red Bull umbrella.

He admits “negotiations with Alpine are difficult”, but in light of the Herta news Marko also said Red Bull is still exploring “what possibilities there could be” for next year.

At the same time, Monza debutant and F1’s rookie-of-the-moment Nyck de Vries confirmed rumors that he met with Marko in his Graz (Austria) office last Friday.

The implication is that if Alpha Tauri can secure Dutchman de Vries, the Gasly-Alpine deal might still be on.

“We talked about schnitzel,” de Vries, 27, joked to France’s Auto Hebdo when asked about his meeting with Marko.

De Vries is also still a contender to race full-time for Williams in 2023, and he is currently preparing to test a year-old Alpine in Hungary.

“Yes, it’s all true,” he confirmed to the Dutch broadcaster RTL4.

“We have been negotiating with Alpine since July, and it is already in the press that I was in Austria where we discussed the prospects for cooperation with Dr Marko.

“I’ve obviously been talking to Williams for a long time, and I was able to make my debut there, so that would be a logical step. But I’m not sure I’m in a situation where I can literally choose the team.

“It’s largely beyond my control, and not everything in this world revolves around performance. But fortunately, there is a bit of momentum now and room on the grid.

“So there are opportunities but no guarantees,” de Vries added.

The bad news for potential Haas and Ferrari refugee Mick Schumacher, on the other hand, is that his management has denied reports that the German will also test an Alpine in the forthcoming private test.