Alpine F1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer says AlphaTauri F1’s Franz Tost was reluctant to let Pierre Gasly go.
Pierre Gasly has signed with Alpine F1 Team for 2023, just three months after agreeing a new contract extension with Scuderia AlphaTauri.
The move comes as Fernando Alonso announced a shock move to Aston Martin F1 while reserve driver Oscar Piastri declined a promotion and instead joined McLaren following a F1 contract approval committee hearing. It came after an unexpected situation for the Alpine F1 team.
“I called Franz and asked him if we could release him,” said Otmar Szafnauer of his contract negotiations with Pierre Gasly.
“Franz said ‘no.’ I said, ‘I’m glad you said that.’ ‘I can’t wait,'” said Otmar Szafnauer.
“He said, ‘No, I need him. He’s a great driver. I don’t want to let him go.'”
“I said, ‘Thank you. Can I call Helmut[Marko]to get back to you? He might have a different point of view,’ and I called Helmut.”
AlphaTauri eventually signed Nick de Vries to replace Pierre Gasly, but Olomar Szafnauer was in the first round of negotiations to sign IndyCar driver Colton Herta for the Red Bull-owned team. said he supported the
Despite strong interest, the move ultimately fell through as Colton Herta lacked F1 superlicence points and the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) was unwilling to allow exceptions to the rules.
Otmar Szafnauer said: “At the same time, when we reach a certain milestone, we call Laurent[Rossi/Alpine CEO]and say, ‘This is done. I have to talk to Brian Herta about the release.”
“I was a little bit involved in that. I went to lunch with Brian and Colton because the release was contingent on them and Red Bull. Red Bull knew they were happy to find a replacement for Gasly.”
“Otherwise they wouldn’t have released him.”
Category: F1 / Alpine / Pierre Guthrie / Alpha Tauri