Three completely new faces, one returnee and two drivers who have switched teams: there has been a lot going on in the Formula 1 driver market in recent weeks. But what do the teams expect from the newcomers? sport.de provides an overview:
Nico Hulkenberg (Aston Martin -> Haas)
By swapping Hülkenberg for Schumacher, the US team hopes for more consistency, more points, more progress and at the same time lower costs and fewer secondary theaters of war.
Haas wanted a driver who could use his experience to develop the car immediately and who might even get a point or two along the way. Mick Schumacher had failed too often in this task. Hülkenberg, on the other hand, seems predestined for this job.
Team leader Günther Steiner is “a little worried” about the Emmericher’s three-year break. “He will definitely need some time. And that was our biggest concern when we dealt with him,” admitted the South Tyrolean. In the end, however, he sees the necessary “fire” in Hülkenberg to bring the team forward: “He convinced us that he was still capable of it.”
Oscar Piastri (Alpine -> McLaren)
Rarely has a youngster made as many headlines as the Australian before his first Formula 1 race. After Piastri’s move to McLaren was enforced in court, McLaren fans can look forward to one of the most exciting driver pairings in the entire Formula 1 field.
The team hopes to have signed the “next Norris” in Piastri. And the results of the 21-year-old in the junior classes certainly suggest that. However, the situation in which the youngster has maneuvered himself more or less involuntarily with the contract posse is problematic. Even the competition is already looking at the newcomer with eagle eyes.
“With his contract situation, he stirred up so much dust, even though he hasn’t driven a meter yet, that he’s already under pressure. He has to deliver. I’m curious if he can and will do that,” said Red Bulls Helmut Marko. It’s up to Piastri and McLaren to silence the doubters.
Nyck de Vries (Mercedes -> AlphaTauri)
After years of waiting, the Dutchman finally gets the chance to prove himself as a regular driver in Formula 1. AlphaTauri made a clever move with his commitment, because de Vries has been in the front row as a reserve driver at Mercedes for the last two years, so he has learned from the best.
At the same time he gained experience in the WEC, Formula E and Le Mans Series. In a way, Red Bull’s B-Team is exceptionally getting a “complete” racer. It’s a departure from the previous team philosophy.
The 27-year-old dispelled the last doubts about his Formula 1 suitability this year during his firefighting mission in Monza for the sick Alex Albon, when he sensationally scored in the points. Those 53 laps ultimately opened the door that de Vries had actually already closed. “To be honest, I no longer saw Formula 1 as a realistic possibility,” admitted the Dutchman, who had already given up his dream of the premier class – until he grabbed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Fernando Alonso (Alpine -> Aston Martin)
The two-time champion is to finish the job at Aston Martin for which the British had originally intended Sebastian Vettel. Both are on a similar level in terms of experience, achievements and attitude. In terms of driving, however, the Spaniard was slightly ahead, at least in the last two years. In addition, he brings background knowledge from working with five different teams and from various racing classes.
The racing team particularly wants to benefit from this knowledge. The development of the car is the be-all and end-all to achieve the ambitious goals. During the first test drives in Abu Dhabi, the “Samurai” immediately made an excellent impression.
“That was very impressive,” said team boss Mike Krack, praising the Asturian for his way of giving feedback to the team. “Everything was always on point,” enthused Krack, who is hoping for an initial spark from Alonso: “When you have someone with this passion and this drive, it has an influence on the team. I think he leaves a spark skip to the team.”
Logan Sargeant (Carlin -> Williams)
After a surprisingly strong 2021 season, Williams has landed back on solid ground this year. And because the team has little to lose with a view to 2023, Jost Capito and Co. can also afford to bet on a rookie. The fact that this rookie is based in the booming US market undoubtedly influenced the decision.
The downside: Nobody knows if Sargeant is really ready for Formula 1. His performances in the junior classes were sometimes decent, sometimes good, but only very rarely outstanding. Question marks remain about his suitability for the premier class – but that also applied to Nicholas Latifi until the end. In this respect, the bottom line is that the risk for the traditional racing team is limited.
Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri -> Alpine)
Since returning in 2016, the Renault works team has been chasing its own claims. There was rarely a lack of quality in the cockpit. With Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo, Nico Hülkenberg and Carlos Sainz, the team has had many top drivers in its ranks over the past six years. But they didn’t really ignite either.
Now, with Gasly, another driver joins the team whose skills there is no doubt about. The Frenchman very often made a lot out of very little at AlphaTauri. At the same time, Alpine’s form curve was slightly up this year. So there is a lot to be said for a successful cooperation.
“I really believe that this team means a fresh start for me and that we can achieve something great together,” said the 26-year-old after the Abu Dhabi tests in December. The top management expects nothing less than great results from their new driver, who played no role in the planning until a few months ago and only came into play when the Piastri posse was decided in court.
Christian Schenzel