F1: Gasly announced at Alpine, de Vries to AlphaTauri

Scuderia AlphaTauri announced that Nyck de Vries will join the team for the 2023 Formula 1 season, replacing Pierre Gasly who will leave at the end of the current season to drive for Alpine.

“I am delighted to join the Alpine family and begin this new chapter in my F1 career,” said Gasly. “Driving for a team that has French roots is something very special.

“I know the strengths of Alpine having raced against them over the past couple of years and, clearly, their progress and ambition is very impressive.”

Pierre Gasly of France and Scuderia AlphaTauri talks to the media in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on October 06, 2022 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images ) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

Gasly and Ocon will be together for at least two years, since Ocon is contracted until 2024. Both men have already scored their first wins, with Gasly triumphing for AlphaTauri at Monza in 2020, and Ocon in Budapest the following year.

De Vries, The 27-year-old Dutch driver begins his official F1 racing career with one Grand Prix already under his belt, following a stand-in appearance for Alex Albon at this year’s Italian Grand Prix. Additionally, he completed several FP1 sessions in 2022. Dominating in other categories, Nyck has a number of titles already against his name; notably, he was the 2020-21 FIA Formula E World Champion and 2019 FIA Formula 2 Champion, as well as being the 2010 and 2011 Karting World Champion.

“I’m extremely excited to be joining Scuderia AlphaTauri for 2023” said Nyck de Vries, “and I want to thank both Red Bull and the team for giving me the opportunity to drive in F1. After Formula 2, I took a slightly different path with motorsport, but F1 has always been my dream and I’m grateful to be able to fulfil it. I’ve had a lot of chances to experience the 2022 car this year and I think that has put me in a great position for the upcoming season, I hope this has helped to prepare me for what is to come. Having spent most of my teenage years in Italy for karting, I’ve always felt at home there, so for me it’s great to be joining an Italian team, that already has a real family feel, and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and to start to build our relationship before the next season.”

Franz Tost added: “Scuderia AlphaTauri had a very successful time with Pierre. We will never forget his fantastic victory in Monza and his podium finishes in Brazil and Azerbaijan. I want to thank Pierre for all the effort he’s put into the team in the last years, and I wish him all the best for his future.

“Now, we are pleased to start a new chapter with Nyck, who’s very much welcome at Scuderia AlphaTauri. He is a very high skilled driver, as he won in all the categories he competed in, with many races and championships under his belt. His last big success was winning the Formula E World Championship, and this is clear evidence that he is a very competitive driver, who deserves a seat in F1. I am looking forward to seeing him in our car and I’m confident that with Yuki and Nyck we will have a very strong driver line up for 2023.”