Paris (AFP)
Frenchman Pierre Gasly, 25, and his Japanese teammate Yuki Tsunoda, 21, will continue to drive Formula 1 for Italian team AlphaTauri in 2022, the team said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Consistency and stability are crucial at the dawn of a new era for F1, with the introduction of new regulations in 2022. The team believe that the current duo will be able to deliver good results, having already worked well together in 2021 ", explains AlphaTauri.
The 2022 season should indeed be important for the more modest teams, like AlphaTauri, against the manufacturers Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren or Alpine, with the introduction of new single-seaters supposed to be closer in performance.
"Pierre performed very well while assuming the role of team leader this season, obtaining a podium (3rd in Azerbaijan, editor's note) and placing himself in the top 10 of the drivers' classification (currently 8th, editor's note)" , continues the Italian team.
"As for Yuki, who became the first Japanese driver to score points in his first Formula 1 race (9th in Bahrain at the end of March, editor's note), he took up this new challenge and continued his learning during his season of beginner."
Arrived in F1 at the end of the 2017 season at Toro Rosso (the old identity of AlphaTauri), Gasly had a difficult stint at Red Bull during the first part of 2019. Demoted to Toro Rosso in mid-season, he has since then signed three podiums, including a victory at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix.
Japanese AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda on his arrival at the Zandvoort circuit on September 2, 2021, ahead of the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix.
Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD AFP
In 13 GP in 2021, Tsunoda has for best result a 6th place in Hungary and for best qualifying two 7th places in Azerbaijan and Austria.
He was also noticed by his outbursts of voice during his radio communications with his team.
© 2021 AFP