Did De Vries put Williams on hold in the hope of Alpine?
General
- GPblog.com
A whole game seems to be developing around Alpine and Williams and their choice of drivers for 2023. Pierre Gasly and Nyck de Vries appear to be the main players, but Colton Herta, Jack Doohan and Logan Sargeant also have a role to play in the transfer merry-go-round. This is written by the usually well-informed The Race The day after the Italian Grand Prix.
De Vries dependent on Gasly
Gasly has been linked with Alpine for weeks and the 26-year-old driver would still be the number one candidate for the French team, but a deal seems complicated. AlphaTauri would only agree to an interim departure if it can find a worthy replacement for Gasly. Colton Herta is the only candidate, but the American doesn't have a super license yet and so Gasly is kept to his contract by Helmut Marko.
Herta was told on Saturday that the FIA will not give him an exception. Marko has not given up hope, but it is clear that it is becoming a difficult story. Alpine is therefore looking around for alternatives and has found De Vries, as was revealed last week.
Alpine test for De Vries?
Alpine is rumoured to have scheduled a private test somewhere between the Italian GP and the Singapore weekend. According to The Race, De Vries is likely to step in to give Otmar Szafnauer 's team a good idea of what he can do. Alpine driver Doohan is also on the shortlist to replace Fernando Alonso, so he too could step into the car. The only thing is that Alpine can also use his junior during first free practice later in the season and so he will not necessarily be in action during this test.
Herta is also likely to take part in the test. That's not so much because Alpine is interested in him, but more to do Red Bull and AlphaTauri a favour. The IndyCar driver is likely to compete for AlphaTauri a few times later in the year during FP1's to solidify his position for a super license. Alpine also knows that if Herta does eventually get that license, they may acquire Gasly.
Williams possibly put on hold
Williams team boss JostCapito hinted Sunday that it is mainly up to De Vries whether he will drive Formula 1 next year. This implies that Williams has already made him an offer. It may be that De Vries is considering the offer, but is not jumping at the chance because he also knows he may be in line for a 2023 seat at the more competitive Alpine.
If Alpine chooses De Vries, one option for Williams will be removed. The only two options left are to bring in their own junior Logan Sargeant to replace Nicholas Latifi or to take Doohan on temporarily from Alpine. Doohan could develop in the lee of Williams for a year or two and then take over from De Vries at Alpine. This would be a similar arrangement to Alpine's original plans for Oscar Piastri (before it was announced that Alonso would be leaving the team).