Much was revealed about the 2022 grid this week, but one seat on the grid remains a surprise: the second seat at
Alfa Romeo. The team announced earlier this week that
Valtteri Bottas will drive for the team starting next year.
Whether
Antonio Giovinazzi will keep his seat is unknown, but there are several names that are mentioned as replacements.
Formula 2 driver Guanyu Zhou is said to be in the running for the seat, as is
Stoffel Vandoorne and also Dutchman
Nyck de Vries.
When the second cockpit will be assigned is unknown, but an announcement could come at any time. According to reports from
RTL it seems that
Nyck de Vries is in the running as the favorite to take over the seat from Giovinazzi.
Friendly relationship with Vasseur
De Vries won the
Formula E World Championship this season, putting him on the radar of F1 teams. The Dutchman has a friendly relationship with
Alfa Romeo team boss Frédéric Vasseur and
Toto Wolff is watching everything from the sidelines as his manager.
RTL also reports that
Ferrari will remain Alfa Romeo's engine supplier, which does make Giovinazzi's position stronger. As a junior driver for
Ferrari he would have an advantage here. We still have to be patient, but it won't be long before Alfa Romeo announces their second driver.