After a successful 2021 season with AlphaTauri, Pierre Gasly wanted to continue the run in 2022. However, with the team struggling to cope with the new regulations, he scored just 23 points in total. Watching the season go into the muck, the Frenchman wanted a move away and eventually found a new home at Alpine. As he looks back at how the whole saga went, he feels it was a win-win situation for all parties involved.

Being Red Bull’s junior team, AlphaTauri has always served as the team for them to try out inexperienced drivers. In 2021, Gasly punched above his weight, securing the 9th position in the drivers’ standings, scoring 110 points. Moreover, he helped the team finish 6th in the constructors’ standings, in a season when his rookie teammate Yuki Tsunoda was struggling.

How the whole AlphaTauri to Alpine move happened for Pierre Gasly

Gasly recently had an interview where he talked about the tough 2022 season and the problems he faced with AlphaTauri. He also talked about his move to Alpine and how the deal finally went through.

Speaking with Auto Motor und Sport, he said, “I was in Greece on the first day of the summer holidays. I needed a break because the season wasn’t going to my liking. I had to switch off. On the first day there was then the first contact with Alpine. Back then to Laurent Rossi. I have forwarded everything to my management. The talks started between Alpine, Red Bull, myself. We explored what could come of it. A summer in which I wanted to switch off became the opposite.” [Translated using Google]

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“I was in contact with Formula 1 practically every day and followed everything. How the situation is, and the deal is developing. As it got closer, it was about the terms of the contract. Of course, I knew Red Bull’s point of view that they wanted to keep me. So I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy conversation with Helmut [Marko]. But he understood how important this step is for me. Then we brought it. It was a win-win deal for everyone.”

When asked if the move was a win for AlphaTauri as well, Pierre replied, “A win-win situation for Alpine, Helmut, and me.”

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Gasly had his contract with Red Bull’s sister team until the 2023 season. The move away wasn’t a realistic one, but as fate would have it, it did go through.

Helmut Marko helped Gasly make the switch to Alpine

Ever since his career in F1 kicked off, Pierre Gasly has been with Red Bull. In 2017, he started out with Toro Rosso, then had a brief stint with the senior team in 2019. He even took his maiden race win in F1 with AlphaTauri at the 2020 Italian GP. Despite working with him for so many years, Helmut Marko knew when to let go.

In the same interview, Pierre told, “When Helmut was open to talks, I noticed that the situation was changing. Red Bull obviously had a financial interest after they funded my career. Of course, they wanted compensation and to make some money. “

“That was a reasonable trade. For me, it is an important change in my career. I think that I have fulfilled my role at Red Bull and AlphaTauri in the best possible way in recent years. No matter what happened. Helmut recognized that and understood me.”

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Alpine had a great 2022 season, finishing 4th in the standings ahead of McLaren. It will be interesting to see if they can continue the momentum with Gasly in Fernando Alonso’s place.