Gasly to Replace Alonso at Alpine, De Vries to Join Alpha Tauri

Formula One F1 - Turkish Grand Prix - Intercity Istanbul Park, Istanbul, Türkiye - October 9, 2021 AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly in action during practice REUTERS/Murad Sezer
Formula One F1 - Turkish Grand Prix - Intercity Istanbul Park, Istanbul, Türkiye - October 9, 2021 AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly in action during practice REUTERS/Murad Sezer
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Gasly to Replace Alonso at Alpine, De Vries to Join Alpha Tauri

Formula One F1 - Turkish Grand Prix - Intercity Istanbul Park, Istanbul, Türkiye - October 9, 2021 AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly in action during practice REUTERS/Murad Sezer
Formula One F1 - Turkish Grand Prix - Intercity Istanbul Park, Istanbul, Türkiye - October 9, 2021 AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly in action during practice REUTERS/Murad Sezer

French driver Pierre Gasly will leave Alpha Tauri to replace two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso at Alpine next season, the team announced Saturday.

Dutchman Nyck de Vries, who made his Formula One debut standing in for Williams' Alex Albon at last month's Italian Grand Prix, will replace Gasly at Alpha Tauri.

Gasly, who has been with the Red Bull stable since making his Formula One debut with Toro Rosso in 2017, will line up with countryman Esteban Ocon at Alpine.

Gasly, 26, said it was "emotionally very special" to join the French team, who are locked in a close contest for fourth place with McLaren in this season's constructors' championship.

"What motivated me was the development of Alpine over the past three years, their performance constantly improving," said Gasly, whose only Formula One win came at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix.

"They won their first race last year and this season they have been fighting to be the fourth force. They have a complete package and similar ambitions to mine."

Ocon won last season's Hungarian Grand Prix to give Alpine their first race victory.

Alonso, 41, will leave the team to join Aston Martin on a multi-year contract, taking the seat vacated by the imminent retirement of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Gasly said he was "happy and impatient" to get started with Alpine.

"As a driver, the most important thing is to be in a car that allows you to show your talent to the fullest," he said.

"I think with Alpine, I will have the best chance of being able to perform."

Gasly will be replaced at Alpha Tauri by de Vries, who claimed 13th place at the Italian Grand Prix standing in for Albon, who came down with appendicitis.

The 27-year-old has won world titles in Formula Two and Formula E and said he was "extremely excited" to join Alpha Tauri.

"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," said de Vries.

"I hope this has helped to prepare me for what is to come."



Lando Norris Seeks to Keep His Winning F1 Run Going at the Belgian Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Belgian Grand Prix - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium - July 26, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after qualifying in pole position REUTERS/Manon Cruz
Formula One F1 - Belgian Grand Prix - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium - July 26, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after qualifying in pole position REUTERS/Manon Cruz
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Lando Norris Seeks to Keep His Winning F1 Run Going at the Belgian Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Belgian Grand Prix - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium - July 26, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after qualifying in pole position REUTERS/Manon Cruz
Formula One F1 - Belgian Grand Prix - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium - July 26, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after qualifying in pole position REUTERS/Manon Cruz

McLaren's Lando Norris starts on pole position at the Belgian Grand Prix as he seeks to keep his winning run going and boost his Formula 1 title chances against teammate Oscar Piastri.

Norris is aiming to win three Grand Prix races in a row for the first time in his F1 career and follow up on an emotional home victory at the British Grand Prix earlier this month, The Associated Press said.

The risk of rain in the Belgian forests means it could be the second wet race in a row after Norris' win in Britain.

Piastri qualified second on the grid Saturday by less than a tenth of a second from Norris, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc third and defending champion Max Verstappen fourth for Red Bull.

Piastri's leads Norris in the standings by nine points following Saturday's sprint race in Belgium. Verstappen held off both McLarens to take the sprint win, with Piastri second and Norris third.