According to a recent report from Autosport, AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly has is considered a surprise candidate for the Alpine Formula 1 team next season, which means that a place in the AlphaTauri would also open up for 2023. As reported by Adam Cooper for Autospor ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Austrian former professional racing driver and current advisor the Red Bull, Helmut Marko, is considering Mick Schumacher for the AlphaTauri drive, as the German driver will most likely leave Haas at the end of the 2022 Formula 1 season.
A move to AlphaTauri would mean that Mick Schumacher would have to end his current contract with the Ferrari Driver Academy, which he joined in 2019. Helmut Marko feels that by signing Mick Schumacher there would be a high-profile German in the Red Bull camp ahead of Porsche’s arrival on the grid in 2026.
At the same time, Autosport informs that Marko has an interest in Andretti Autosport’s IndyCar frontrunner Colton Herta, who also has a McLaren contract. Intriguingly, on Saturday afternoon at Spa the Red Bull motorsport boss was seen in conversation with McLaren CEO Zak Brown.
Mick Schumacher and Mercedes Formula E driver Nyck de Vries are on the lookout for 2023 seats, while Sauber/Alfa Romeo junior Theo Pourchaire could also be an outside bet for teams in 2023. Alpine is also looking to complete its line-up, given that Oscar Piastri will most likely driver for McLaren. Esteban Ocon said on Thursday in Spa-Francorchamps that he would be happy with any teammate.
“I mean, it doesn’t matter in the end who’s next to me,” he said. “I will keep the job that I’m doing now with my team, keeping understanding the car and the progress that we’ve made since I joined the team in 2020. It’s been huge. And of course, I’m a very different driver to what I’ve been. I know a lot more now of the team, of the car, and how to use the machine I’ve got in hands. I’m happy with where that’s going. Again, whoever will be on my side next year, I will keep doing the job I’m doing, and as long as I’m happy with the performance, and how that’s going, then there is no need for me to change or worry about the other side.” – he added.
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However, Esteban Ocon admitted that he would like to see his friend Mick Schumacher land the job at Alpine: “It’s not my decision. But yeah, I would be very happy to work with Mick. He’s a good friend of mine. So again, the team, it’s for them to decide, not for me. But yeah, if that ended up like this is going to be for sure a great ride.” – the French driver concluded.
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