The rumor mill is boiling over in the current “Silly Season” of Formula 1. Pierre Gasly’s name is also hotly traded. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has now taken a clear position on the speculation about the future of the Frenchman.
Who will drive alongside Esteban Ocon at Alpine in the next Formula 1 season? This question is currently keeping the premier class on their toes, because the originally planned promotion of Oscar Piastri is becoming increasingly unlikely.
With Daniel Ricciardo, who will probably have to vacate his place at McLaren, Mick Schumacher, whose future at Haas is still unclear, and Pierre Gasly, who would like to switch to a larger team, three drivers are currently being traded particularly hot on the premier class transfer market.
However, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has now made it unmistakably clear: Gasly is not on the market with a view to 2023.
“No exit clause” in Formula 1 with Pierre Gasly
Opposite to “sports1” the Austrian denied an exit clause from the French that had previously been brought into play by the English media.
“There is no exit clause at Gasly, there was none before the summer break and there will be none after the summer break,” Marko hinted that the 26-year-old would also drive in Red Bull’s “B-Team” next season becomes.
AlphaTauri team boss Franz Tost also confirmed the whereabouts of his number one, after all it made “no sense” for Red Bull to let Gasly go a year before his contract expired.
“If a Red Bull driver fails, there is no other adequate pilot who can step in. Only Gasly can do that,” Tost justified his assessment.
Will Mick Schumacher succeed Alonso?
For Alpine, Red Bull’s cancellation is another setback in the search for a suitable Alonso successor.
Gasly would have fitted the requirement profile of the French team like no other. Otmar Szafnauer also did not rule out Daniel Ricciardo returning, but the Australian would be significantly more expensive than Gasly and is also seven years older.
Another option would be the signing of Mick Schumacher, whose future at Haas is still open. The German’s contract expires after the season. According to “RTL/ntv” information, talks with the team management were last postponed. It is not clear whether both parties will find each other in the fall.
Should an agreement not be reached, a move to Alpine could be Mick’s only chance of remaining in the premier class.