AlphaTauri confirm Pierre Gasly for 2021 F1 season

F1

Pierre Gasly will race for AlphaTauri next season in Formula 1 the team has confirmed

Pierre Gasly, 2020 Portuguese GP

Gasly is staying with AlphaTauri for next season

Peter Fox/Getty Images

Pierre Gasly will stay with AlphaTauri for the 2021 Formula 1 season with the team confirming the Frenchman for next year.

Speculation had grown that he might return to Red Bull in place of the struggling Alexander Albon, but the 24-year-old will stay with his current team.

Gasly memorably took victory for the Faenza team earlier this season at Monza, and has arguably been the most consistent Red Bull junior driver outside of Max Verstappen this season.

“I’m extremely happy to continue with Scuderia AlphaTauri for another season!” Gasly said.

“This year is going very well, and we are on track to have our most successful season in the team’s history. I feel we have a very strong relationship, we have managed to take every opportunity that’s come our way, the best one at the Italian Grand Prix.

“Winning my first Formula 1 race in Monza was a very special moment for me, and it was made extra sweet to deliver a second win in the team’s history, so I’m very proud of that. I’ll do my maximum to push the team and take all my responsibility to bring it as far forward as I can.

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“I’m looking forward to next year’s challenge and continuing with AlphaTauri both as a premium fashion brand and a racing team, to keep performing as much as I can to achieve even more success in the future.”

The French driver currently sits in ninth place in the drivers’ championship, just a single point behind Albon. Team-mate Daniil Kvyat has struggled comparatively, currently in 14th place and 53 points off of his team-mate.

“I’m delighted that Pierre will remain with us for the 2021 season,” AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost said.

“He has been part of the Red Bull driver pool for many years and I hope he will remain in the Red Bull family for many seasons ahead. Since he came back to the team last year, he consistently showed extremely good performances achieving two podiums, with a second place in Brazil in 2019 and a win at the team’s home race at this year’s Italian Grand Prix.

“Pierre has proven to be highly competitive also thanks to his great race craft, extracting the car’s potential at every race and giving valuable feedback to his engineers. He is mentally very strong, he is always motivated and when he sets a goal he gives it his all to achieve it.

“I’m looking forward to extending this cooperation and having a successful 2021 season together.”

Gasly’s confirmation leaves the sister AlphaTauri seat as the only option at the team available, with speculation continuing that a demotion for Albon could be on the cards or Honda F2 junior Yuki Tsunoda could be in the frame for a call up to Formula 1.