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Carlos Sainz takes pole in Texas; Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc finished second but faces a 10-place grid penalty; world champion Max Verstappen to start on front row after finishing third watch the race live on Sky Sports F1 at 8pm on Sunday, with build up from 6:30pm

Carlos Sainz produced a brilliant lap to take pole position at the United States Grand Prix as Ferrari outpaced Red Bull in qualifying at Austin’s Circuit of The Americas.

Sainz led a one-two from team-mate Charles Leclerc, but will be joined on the front row by world champion Max Verstappen, who finished third for Red Bull, because of a 10-place grid penalty applied to the second Ferrari for taking new engine parts.

Sergio Perez was fourth, but with the second Red Bull facing a five-place grid penalty, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes team-mate George Russell are promoted to the second row after finishing fifth and sixth respectively.

Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll produced an impressive performance to finish seventh, and will also be promoted two places to start on the third row alongside McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Fernando Alonso qualified ninth, but is also facing a five-place penalty, meaning Valtteri Bottas is promoted from 10th to seventh. Bottas’ Alfa Romeo team-mate Zhou Guanyu is the fourth and final driver facing a grid penalty, which drops him from 14th to 19th.

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Max Verstappen paid tribute to Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz, who passed away at the age of 78.

Verstappen sealed his second successive title by winning in Japan two weeks’ ago, but there remains plenty to play for as Red Bull attempt to seal the constructors’ championship and Leclerc battles Perez for second in the drivers’ contest.

Leclerc’s demotion – for taking a new internal combustion engine and turbocharger – has stiffened Ferrari’s task of beating Red Bull by 19 points to extend the constructors’ championship, but Sainz’s pole offers encouragement for the Italian team.

There was a sombre mood in the Red Bull garage – and the rest of the F1 paddock – after news broke shortly before qualifying that the team’s founder and owner Dietrich Mateschitz had died at the age of 78.

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff pays tribute to Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner held back tears as he offered a tribute to Mateschitz before the session, on what was already proving to be a turbulent weekend for the team as they continue to deny accusations of “cheating” from rivals after having been found to have breached F1’s cost cap for the 2021 season.

While there has been a tense atmosphere in Austin with other teams calling for a strong punishment as the FIA continues to deliberate, Mateschitz’s passing brought unity as tributes flooded in from all corners of the paddock.

United States GP Qualifying Results
1) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
2) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari*
3) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
4) Sergio Perez, Red Bull*
5) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
6) George Russell, Mercedes
7) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
8) Lando Norris, McLaren
9) Fernando Alonso, Alpine*
10) Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo

*Grid penalties for taking new engine parts

Sainz triumphs after frantic session

A dramatic qualifying session in Texas began with two surprise Q1 exits, as Esteban Ocon finished 18th after failing to maintain the solid pace Alpine had shown throughout the weekend.

The other headline name to drop out was Daniel Ricciardo, as the outgoing McLaren driver’s miserable season continued with a third Q1 exit in the last five races.

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Mick Schumacher’s pirouette results in a ‘ruined’ lap for the German in Q1 at the USA Grand Prix.

Mick Schumacher failed to enhance his hopes of staying in F1 with Haas next season, as a spin ruined his final flying lap and left him 19th.

The most impressive performance in Q1 came from Alex Albon, who produced a late surge to advance for Williams, and showed more strong speed in Q2 to finish 11th.

There appeared to be more disappointment for McLaren in Q2 as Norris initially showed as 11th – and out – on the timesheet, but the Brit was reprieved as Zhou saw his lap-time deleted for exceeding track limits.

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Sainz says he has high hopes of winning the United States Grand Prix

There was more for frustration for AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly, who will drive for Alpine next season, as he complained about his car over the radio before finishing 13th.

Meanwhile, Sainz had topped Q1 and Leclerc Q2, with Verstappen following close behind on both occasions, setting up an intriguing finale.

Despite having no hope of pole because of his grid penalty, Leclerc maintained his advantage in the first runs of Q3 to stay ahead of Sainz, with Hamilton impressing to go clear of the Red Bulls in third.

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Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton admitted Saturday’s qualifying session was not what he hoped it would be.

However, it would be all change on the second and final run, as Sainz turned the tables on Leclerc to seal his third pole of the season with a 1:34.356, with Leclerc just 0.065s back.

Verstappen improved on his final run to take third, while Perez also jumped Hamilton as the seven-time world champion failed to hook up the crucial lap.

Carlos Sainz tops Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton to set the fastest time in Practice One at the US GP; Charles Leclerc fastest in Practice Two as majority of field focus on Pirelli tyre test; watch Qualifying live on Sky Sports F1 from 10pm on Saturday

Ferrari set the pace in Friday practice at the United States Grand Prix as Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc each topped a session in Austin.

Sainz’s 1:36.857 put him more than 0.2s clear of Red Bull’s newly crowned world champion Max Verstappen in Practice One, with Lewis Hamilton a further couple of tenths back in third as Mercedes showed potential after bringing new upgrades to Texas.

Leclerc, who was one of only five drivers able to do regular running in Practice Two having sat out the opening session as teams fulfilled their young driver session obligations, then went marginally faster than his Ferrari team-mate to top the timesheet.

Practice Two at Austin’s Circuit of The Americas was used for Pirelli to test 2023 prototypes, with drivers unable to make setup changes as they tried out unmarked compounds while performing running plans set by F1’s tyre manufacturer.

However, Leclerc, along with Valtteri Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo, Kevin Magnussen and Nicholas Latifi, was allowed to do 30 minutes of running at the beginning of the extended 90-minute session, during which the Monegasque backed up his team-mates’ strong FP1 performance.

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Charles Leclerc topped the timesheet in second practice at the US Grand Prix.

The opening session had a fresh feel with five changes to the driver line-up – including four FP1 debutants – with Leclerc the most notable absence as Robert Shwartzman deputised for him.

While the new faces enjoyed their first F1 experience, Antonio Giovinazzi spurned his opportunity to put himself in contention to drive for Haas next season as he crashed Magnussen’s car in the opening stages, triggering a red flag and causing damage that ruled him out of the remainder of the session.

Lance Stroll was fourth in another encouraging display from Aston Martin, beating the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez to fifth.

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Antonio Giovinazzi caused a red flag just 7 minutes into first practice after hitting the barrier and damaging the car.

Ferrari academy driver Shwartzman was joined by fellow youngsters Alex Palou (McLaren), Theo Pourchaire (Alfa Romeo) and Logan Sargeant (Williams), but it was the relatively experienced Giovinazzi who made a rookie error.

Just a few minutes into the session, the 28-year-old Italian spun at Turn 6 before running off into the barrier. He initially appeared to be stuck there as red flags were waved, but eventually got moving and was able to get the car back to the Haas garage.

However, clutch damage prevented him from getting back out on track, and most likely ended his hopes of challenging Mick Schumacher for his seat with the team next season.

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Sky F1’s Anthony Davidson is at the SkyPad to analyse the opening practice session at the US Grand Prix.

Verstappen, who sealed his second successive title – with four races to spare – by winning in Japan earlier this month, looked to be continuing his dominant form as he set the pace as soon as the session resumed.

Hamilton had spoken on Thursday about his hopes that Mercedes’ upgrades could bring them closer to Red Bull, but the initial signs were negative as he and team-mate George Russell remained four seconds off the pace for the first half of the session.

However, when the seven-time world champion switched to soft tyres, he immediately closed to within a couple of tenths of Verstappen, while Russell – who finished seventh – was almost half a second slower.

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Martin Brundle was trackside to analyse ‘tricky’ turn 15 of the US Grand Prix.

But then came Sainz, as Ferrari showed strong Friday speed once more, jumping six tenths clear of Verstappen. The Dutchman attempted to respond but was left frustrated after being unable to threaten the Spaniard’s time.

“There must be something wrong with the car because I have no front end and low speed,” Verstappen said over team radio at the end of the session.

It was confirmed during the session that Red Bull’s Perez and Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu will receive five-place grid penalties in Sunday’s race after taking new engine parts, while Ferrari have admitted both of their drivers are likely to take new parts that will also drop them down the grid.

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Lando Norris drifts into the pitlane and narrowly misses hitting the wall in second practice of the US Grand Prix.

The penalties appear likely to help Red Bull seal the constructors’ championship, with Ferrari needing to best the leaders by 19 points to extend the contest to next weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix.

The penalties could also have an impact on the battle for second in the drivers’ championship, with Perez currently leading Leclerc by just a point.

The US GP weekend began in the shadow of F1’s ongoing cost cap saga, with the paddock awaiting an announcement on how Red Bull will be punished for breaching the 2021 spending limit.

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Sky Sports News’ Craig Slater provides fresh insight and analysis on F1’s cost cap saga ahead of what is sure to be a dramatic weekend in Texas.

Red Bull chief Christian Horner is set to face the media in the team principals’ press conference on Saturday at 5:25pm, live on Sky Sports, with the F1 community eagerly awaiting an update on the situation.

Given the limited running available on Friday due to the tyre test, Practice Three is likely to take on additional significance on Saturday ahead of Qualifying, with both sessions live on Sky Sports F1, at 8pm and 11pm respectively.

Lewis Hamilton says Red Bull being found to have breached Formula 1’s cost cap has brought up “emotion” from agonisingly losing out in his 2021 world championship battle with Max Verstappen.

Mercedes driver Hamilton was denied an eighth world championship in controversial circumstances as an unprecedented call by race director Michael Masi afforded Verstappen the chance to take the lead on the final lap, before winning the race and title.

Hamilton considered walking away from the sport before returning for 2022 and “moving on” from the incident, but admits old wounds have been opened up with the Dutchman’s team now having been found to have breached the sport’s budget cap in its first season in operation.

“I don’t necessarily have much of an opinion because I’m not really focused on it,” Hamilton said on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix.

“It’s happened in the past for me. I would say I’d moved on from last year, and of course this popping up at this point in the season definitely brings up emotion for many people, the fans, for everyone. For how it went down at the end of last year and then on top of that, this happened.”

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Sky Sports News’ Craig Slater provides fresh insight and analysis on F1’s cost cap saga ahead of what is sure to be a dramatic weekend in Texas

With Verstappen having gone on to claim the 2022 title, and Red Bull set to end Mercedes’ eight-year constructors’ championship streak, rival teams are calling for significant punishment, arguing the 2021 breach has impacted this season, and will also be a factor in 2023 if severe action isn’t taken.

The FIA is understood to have offered terms of an ‘accepted breach agreement’ to Red Bull ahead of this weekend’s US GP, with the team now left to decide on whether to accept the offer and likely a lesser punishment, or go before an adjudication panel. The details of the FIA’s offer to Red Bull, however, are still unclear.

Red Bull were last week the only team found guilty of exceeding the 2021 $145m spending limit – with a ‘minor’ breach meaning they had overspent by less than five per cent ($7.25m) – although have emphatically rejected claims from rival teams that they have purposely cheated.

“I’m not the one to be able to decide what that (punishment) is,” Hamilton said.

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Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz believes there is unease among the other Formula 1 teams towards Red Bull due to the ongoing cost cap issues

“The fact is that breach affected the result of last year, but it also affects this year, because they would have taken on the same practice, most often perhaps into this season, there would have benefits from that moving on into this season and it rolls on.

“When these new rules come out, if you’ve got a head start it’s very, very hard to close that gap. It just goes back to integrity, we’ve got to stick to the core values of what this sport is.

“We got a 25k fine for me having this nose ring in and a 50k fine for having that wing and put to dead last in the race, so I’m hopeful, I truly believe that I have to have belief in the FIA and the people that are leading this team, that they’re going to make the right decisions. What those are, everyone has an opinion on what should or should not happen, but I’m not giving it energy, I’m trying to win a race right now.”

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Max Verstappen felt that other teams were ‘hypocritical’ amid allegations that Red Bull went over the cost cap

During a separate press conference, Hamilton warned that the future of F1’s budget cap rests on the FIA’s decision.

“I do think this sport needs to do something about this, otherwise if they’re relaxed with these rules, then all the teams will just go over,” Hamilton added.

“Spending millions more and then only having a slap on the wrist isn’t going to be great for the sport. They might as well not have a cost cap in the future.”

Russell: Punishment has to take performance away

Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell says the FIA’s decision will be a “defining moment” for F1 and that even a $100m fine would not be a strong enough penalty.

“I think we’re all interested to see [the punishment] and it’s going to be a defining moment for the sport and the FIA when we hear the outcome of this breach,” Russell said.

“I think the cost cap regulation has been a real benefit, and a positive impact for the sport, trying to bring a level playing field.

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George Russell believes W Series champion Jamie Chadwick deserves a chance in F1 after she claimed her third W Series title

“When it comes to this, we live in such a technical world with small details where if you go beyond the limit, you’re punished. It doesn’t matter if it’s 100 grams too much fuel, or if you’re rear wing – like Lewis in Brazil – is too wide, you’re disqualified and you’re punished accordingly. When it comes to something about the money you’re spending, this is a pretty serious breach.

“If they’ve overspent and it’s brought performance to their race car, it’s got to be something to take performance away. Giving a fine, which has got nothing to do with their overall development or performance, would not be suitable.

“Even if the fine was a hundred-odd million, they’d probably take that and be happy with that punishment. Whereas if you’re talking reducing their cost cap or reducing the amount of time they can put into the wind tunnel, that is truly damaging.”

Bottas calls for penalty that ‘really hurts’ Red Bull

Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas, who was Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate during the fiercely contested 2021 battle with Red Bull, demanded a “strict and harsh penalty”.

“The rules are the rules and if you don’t follow them there should be a penalty that really hurts,” Bottas said.

“You don’t want anyone to have the appetite to maximise for one year and risk it with the budget cap.

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Sergio Perez said that Red Bull are focused on clinching the Constructors Championship and that the cost cap allegations against the team are ‘not a distraction’.

“I personally hope it’s going to be a strict and harsh penalty because that shouldn’t happen. The rules are the rules. There’s many rules in F1 and this shouldn’t be any different in terms of the penalty.

“Let’s hope it’s a good penalty that really hurts them, because I was in the fight last year. We got the constructors’ but we missed the drivers’ title by a few points, and a few million can make a big, big difference.”

Ferrari have been Red Bull’s closest challengers this season, and their driver Carlos Sainz says that the FIA must make a decision that provides “fairness”.

“I think every team and every driver, we just want clarity first of all, and second, fairness,” Sainz said. “We all know how much one-two-three-four, I don’t know the number, million can make to car development and car speed in F1.

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Carlos Sainz says it was a ‘huge effort’ to keep within the budget cap and that it should be ‘respected’

“That’s why a few years ago all the top teams were spending 350m, and now we’re spending 150 to keep these things under control.

“I just hope that if there’s a penalty, the penalty is relatively important enough to take the appetite away from overspending two or three million to waste on next year’s car, because you think next year’s car is worth it more than the other year, and then you take a penalty for it.

“I just think it needs to be fair play for everyone, and if there’s a cost cap it needs to be followed and I just hope the FIA takes the right decision to make sure everyone follows it.”

Max Verstappen took pole in Japanese GP qualifying but is under investigation following a Q3 incident with Lando Norris; Norris says Verstappen should expect a penalty after forcing him off track; watch Sunday’s race live on Sky Sports F1 at 6am

Lando Norris says Max Verstappen should expect a penalty after a Japanese GP qualifying incident between them forced him to go off track to avoid a high-speed collision.

Verstappen, who can claim the world championship by winning Sunday’s race and taking the fastest lap, took pole position on Saturday but is facing an investigation from the stewards after the Q3 incident with Norris.

As the drivers were on their out-laps ahead of their final flying efforts, with Verstappen going slowly, Norris attempted to overtake the Red Bull on the approach to 130R.

Verstappen then suddenly accelerated, and appeared to lose control of the rear of his car as he swerved across the track towards the line the McLaren was on, leaving Norris no option but to go off track to avoid a collision.

Both Verstappen and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner argued after the session that Norris was breaking a “gentleman’s agreement” between drivers not to overtake on out-laps, but the Briton was adamant the stewards should take action.

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McLaren’s Lando Norris blamed Red Bull driver Max Verstappen for almost causing a collision with him during Q3 at Suzuka

Asked if he thought Verstappen tried to block his overtake, Norris told Sky Sports F1: “I mean it was quite clear he tried to do that.

“There’s no rule on what you can do, but doing what he did is something that you cannot do.

“People always overtake before the last corner, as much as everyone agrees to it (gentleman’s agreement), everyone always does it, so it doesn’t matter, he probably would have done the same if he was in my situation, but I wouldn’t have swerved at him if I was in his situation.”

Asked if he would expect a penalty if he had done what Verstappen did, Norris replied: “Oh yeah, for sure.”

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Karun Chandhok was at the SkyPad to analyse if Red Bull’s Max Verstappen impeded McLaren’s Lando Norris in qualifying

Verstappen: Norris could be more respectful

Verstappen, who appeared to offer an apology on the drivers’ in-laps as he pulled alongside Norris and waved, said he had not intentionally blocked the McLaren.

“I was just driving quite slow, and I wanted to accelerate but my tyres were quite cold, so then I had a big moment,” Verstappen said in his on-track interview immediately after qualifying.

“Then of course Lando was trying to pass me at the same time so he had to avoid me a little bit, but luckily nothing happened.”

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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen gave his perspective on the incident concerning Lando Norris and revealed how he’s feeling about possibly becoming world champion in Sunday’s race.

However, speaking shortly after in a press conference, Verstappen offered a stronger repost to Norris’ comments.

“We were on our out-lap and we were all lining up to try to create a gap to everyone, and somehow he still wanted to get me into the chicane, but I was at the point of acceleration, but I was on very cold tyres so I had a little moment and that’s why he had to drive around me,” he said.

“But if you’re just a bit more respectful, then everyone is anyway already lining up. I don’t think anyone is trying to pass into that last chicane, so basically by trying to pass me you create that kind of problem.”

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after qualifying, Red Bull boss Horner was adamant that the incident had been caused accidentally.

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Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes Lando Norris was wrong to try overtaking Max Verstappen on his out lap and doesn’t think the Dutchman should be penalised for the incident after securing pole

“I don’t think he’s trying to block Lando, I just don’t think he was expecting someone on an out-lap at that point near the chicane,” Horner said.

“They’re both on out laps and there’s a gentleman’s agreement between the drivers that when you get to that part of the circuit you hold position and they file through the last chicane one-by-one.

“So, Lando has decided that he wants to jump the queue as they head up to that final chicane. They’ve been following each other all the way around the circuit until that point.”

Button: Verstappen breached F1 regulations

Sky Sports pundit Jenson Button believed that Verstappen was guilty of breaching F1’s sporting regulations, which state that: “At no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person.”

Button said: “[He breached] all three I’d have to say. I don’t think any of it was intention, when Lando says he turned left into me, I don’t think he did.

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Ride onboard with Max Verstappen as the Red Bull driver edged closer to a second world title in Japan.

“He [Max] is not looking in his mirrors, he looks like he’s got on the throttle to try and warm the tyres up and that’s put him in a position that looks like he’s moving over on Lando. Should he have done that? No.

“He’s going too slow on the exit of a 200mph corner, so that’s the issue that he has.

“None of it was intentional but the problem is that it could have been a massive incident and was very close to being a massive incident between the two cars.

“Do I think Max will get a penalty? There’s a good possibility.”

Pierre Gasly to partner Esteban Ocon at Alpine in 2023 as team finally get their man; Alpine were rejected by Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri earlier this summer but agree a deal with Red Bull to release AlphaTauri driver; AlphaTauri expected to confirm Nyck de Vries as replacement

Pierre Gasly will race for Alpine next season after the French team finally thrashed out a deal with the AlphaTauri driver to end an F1 transfer saga.

Having been snubbed by current driver Fernando Alonso (leaving for Aston Martin) and reserve Oscar Piastri (McLaren) for a seat next year, Gasly was always Alpine’s number one target – as reported by Sky Sports F1 in August – and they have now landed their man.

Gasly, the always highly-rated but often overlooked driver who has 103 races and one incredible win under his belt, will form an all-French line-up with Esteban Ocon.

“It was a clear call and definitely very attractive,” Gasly, 26, told Sky Sports F1. “It felt the right time for me to take my own start and take my career on my own and start this incredible story with Alpine.”

“He brings a wealth of experience, and speed,” stated Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer. “And those are the two things we were looking for.”

Gasly is leaving the Red Bull family for the first time in his F1 career, with Alpine agreeing a deal with the team to release the star of their sister outfit, AlphaTauri. Sky Sports News understands Alpine are paying Red Bull €10m (£8.8m).

AlphaTauri now replace Alpine in having one of the three seats available on the 2023 grid, although they are expected to fill the space quickly with Mercedes reserve and impressive recent Williams stand-in, Nyck de Vries.

Gasly has one Grand Prix win to his name

“What’s easy in Formula 1? Nothing is easy!” Gasly said. “I must admit I’m very thankful to everyone involved because everybody tried their absolute best to make it happen.

“On Red Bull’s side, Christian [Horner, team boss] and Helmut [Marko, team advisor] understood how important, how big this opportunity was to me and my desire to go there and start this new adventure with Alpine.”

Gasly added: “It’s a big change in my career. I’m closing a nine-year chapter with Red Bull, having had a lot of success in younger categories as well as my five years in Formula 1, my first win, podiums.

“I’m starting a new chapter with Alpine. It’s a fresh start.”

Gasly, who had penned a new deal with AlphaTauri for 2023 in June, said he was convinced by Alpine’s form in recent years and their pace this season, with the team currently just behind McLaren in the battle for fourth.

It is his biggest career step up since his brief and unsuccessful stint alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2019.

“I had another year in my contract and it was kind of sealed for next year, then everything happened and this opportunity came up,” Gasly said. “I thought about it and I must admit straight away I knew this was the right move.”

Alpine’s chase comes to an end… and what it means for driver market

Alpine’s signing of Gasly brings an end to a remarkable off-track saga in Formula 1 – one the team never foresaw.

First, two-time world champion Alonso shocked Alpine by agreeing a deal with Aston Martin, and then came the even bigger surprise when Piastri rejected his team’s announcement and set his sights on McLaren.

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Ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, we look back at some of the most memorable moments from previous races in Monza.

Alpine fought hard to keep the Australian but lost out in a Contract Recognition Board hearing, leaving them without a driver for 2023.

While publicly embarrassed in that chase, the team had the bonus of having the most competitive seat available on the market and plenty of potential suitors. But although Daniel Ricciardo’s name was immediately linked and Alpine tested three younger drivers in August, Gasly was always their preferred choice.

“It started probably early August and here we are in October, so it’s had its ups and downs and its ebbs and flows,” said Szafnauer. “But we got there. We worked towards making him available and it will be great next year.”

Red Bull agreed to release Gasly, but only if they had a suitable replacement lined up at AlphaTauri.

The team initially targeted IndyCar standout Colton Herta – whose F1 dream has been dented by a lack of superlicense points – before turning their attention to De Vries.

The fact Gasly is now confirmed heavily implies an announcement is forthcoming for his signature, too.

The other seats left on the market are at Haas, who are weighing up whether to keep Mick Schumacher, and at Williams, with American Logan Sargeant the favourite there.

Pierre Gasly’s expected move from AlphaTauri to Alpine looks set to trigger a final frenzy of activity in Formula 1’s driver market, with the remaining 2023 seats made all the more appealing for the established, and emerging, stars in the running.

As a competitive market continues to take shape deep into the 2022 season, we’ve rounded up the runners and riders for each of the seats as we edge closer to a full confirmed grid…

Alpine

The favourite: Pierre Gasly
(Extreme) outsiders: Jack Doohan, Antonio Giovinazzi, Mick Schumacher, Daniel Ricciardo, Nyck de Vries

After being shocked by Fernando Alonso and snubbed by Oscar Piastri, Alpine said they had a shortlist of “14 drivers” for what is the best available seat in 2023. But in truth, their eyes have always been fixed on Pierre Gasly.

Gasly makes sense for a lot of reasons. He’s French, still young (26) but with five seasons, and a race win, under his belt, and would likely hit the ground running to form a very handy line-up with Esteban Ocon.

The one problem is, he is contracted to Red Bull and is a key part of their sister team AlphaTauri.

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Highlights of the Singapore Grand Prix from the Marina Bay Street Circuit

Red Bull are open to parting ways with Gasly – for a fee – but would want an adequate replacement first (which we will come on to in the next section).

The word from the paddock in Singapore was that a deal is all but confirmed, and is expected to be announced sooner rather than later.

In the event of a last-minute hitch, Alpine do have some alternatives.

Perhaps nervous of another driver market sucker punch by missing out on Gasly, they tested three drivers in a 2021 Alpine car last week at the Hungaroring, Nyck de Vries, Jack Doohan and Antonio Giovinazzi.

Jack Doohan could provide a back-up option for Alpine if Gasly’s expected move was to fall through

De Vries is one of the hot commodities of this year’s driver market, while Giovinazzi would more likely stay within the Ferrari family to get back into F1, but it would not be a surprise if Doohan is very high up on Alpine’s list.

Alpine have been keen to promote from their driver academy for some time (with Piastri always the favourite), but Australian driver Doohan is currently fourth in his first full season in Formula 2 and is highly rated internally.

Daniel Ricciardo and Mick Schumacher are even more extreme outsiders for this seat.

Ricciardo has not been really mentioned by Alpine since early August, with Renault bosses thought to be uneasy about bringing back the 33-year-old, while Schumacher probably has not done enough at Haas to earn a promotion up the grid.

AlphaTauri (if Gasly leaves)

The favourite: Nyck de Vries

AlphaTauri would ideally want Gasly, who only signed a new contract for 2023 in June, to stay. But with Gasly unlikely to get a step up back to Red Bull anytime soon – he did not impress the team in his brief spell in 2019 and Sergio Perez is locked in for multiple years – the senior team may try and get compensation for the Frenchman while they can.

This has always been dependent on finding a replacement, and with no junior drivers making their case to be F1’s next star to come through the Red Bull programme, they have been looking further afield.

Nyck de Vries (right) celebrates with Williams boss Jost Capito after the Italian GP

IndyCar star Colton Herta was their number one target, although – despite winning seven races in the top US single-seater championship – he does not have enough superlicense points.

That collapse appeared to point towards Gasly staying put, but a new front-runner has emerged… that man De Vries.

De Vries, while never having raced in F1, would fit Red Bull and AlphaTauri’s desire for a proven driver to come in for Gasly, and the Dutchman has admitted he has held talks with the team’s transfer advisor Helmut Marko.

He seems to be their only fallback right now; if he does not sign, it is likely Gasly stays.

Haas

The favourites: Mick Schumacher, Nico Hulkenberg,
Outsiders:, Antonio Giovinazzi, Robert Schwartzman, Daniel Ricciardo

Haas are the wildcard in this driver market and it has been hard to predict which direction they are heading in.

What does seem certain is that the US team are seriously considering moving on from Schumacher for 2023, with the German driver having been out-performed by Kevin Magnussen this season. Schumacher is also set to leave the Ferrari driver programme, and his links to the Scuderia were one of the reasons he joined Haas in the first place.

Nico Hulkenberg has emerged as a contender to join Haas

Giovinazzi, the Ferrari reserve and man who was in truth unlucky to lose his Alfa Romeo seat this year, has been heavily linked with the team, as has another former F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg, who has served as a reserve with Aston Martin this season.

More of a like-for-like replacement for Schumacher would be fellow Ferrari driver programme product Robert Schwartzman, who has served as a reserve driver for the Italian team this season. Schwartzman, who holds dual Israeli and Russian nationality, is said to have impressed Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto and, at the age of 23, would provide another forward-looking option for Haas.

Ricciardo, who has also been linked with the seat, would be the headline signing Haas have been waiting for since their F1 debut six years ago, and would be a big hit Stateside. However, it remains to be seen whether they would have the budget or pedigree to attract Ricciardo, who has made it clear he is open to a test-driver role with a stronger outfit in 2023 if the right drive does not present itself.

During the Singapore GP, chatter suggested it is Hulkenberg who has emerged as the most likely driver to replace Schumacher, with the pair now in a shoot-out for the position

Williams

The favourite: Logan Sargeant
Outsiders: Nyck de Vries, Mick Schumacher, Antonio Giovinazzi

Nicholas Latifi’s impending exit leaves an opening at Williams, whose movements could depend on how the dominoes fall in the driver market.

Given his pedigree, and more importantly, how well he performed in Alex Albon’s absence in Italy, De Vries would surely be Williams’ preferred choice, but they appear set to miss out on him to AlphaTauri.

Other than De Vries, Logan Sargeant is the name that has cropped up most in links with Williams.

Williams may give junior driver Logan Sargeant a chance

American driver Sargeant is a Williams junior and is third in the F2 standings. He is well thought of at Williams, who have American owners, and will make his practice debut for the team at the United States GP next month.

Schumacher could be a driver of interest should he leave Haas – he has done enough in his two years in F1 to prove he belongs – while Giovinazzi fits that bill of a solid driver alongside Albon, too.

The reality is the 2023 grid is still incredibly difficult to predict, even at this late stage of the season. There are, however, expected to be significant developments in the coming weeks.

Daniel Ricciardo has been linked with vacant 2023 seats at Alpine, Haas and Williams, along with reserve roles at Red Bull and Mercedes; watch the Singapore GP live on Sky Sports F1, starting with Friday’s practice at 10.30am; Sunday’s race at 1pm

Daniel Ricciardo says taking a Formula 1 reserve role in 2023 has become a “realistic” possibility for him as he continues to weigh up his options for next season.

After McLaren announced in August the early termination of Ricciardo’s contract at the end of the season, the Australian has been linked with vacant seats at Alpine, Williams and Haas, along with reserve roles for front-runners Red Bull and Mercedes.

Ricciardo has had a three-week break since the Italian GP to consider his future, and speaking ahead of this weekend’s Singapore GP, he admitted he is wary of taking a drive with a team at the back of field.

“Let’s say my headspace is in the same space,” Ricciardo said on Thursday. “I’m still keen to be part of F1 and of course, ‘Plan A’ would be to be on the grid.

“So nothing’s changed but I don’t want to just jump at the first kind of seat available. I know the landscape probably changes as well at the end of next year, with contracts and whatever, so I don’t want to say remaining patient, but remaining open.”

Asked specifically about the likelihood of taking a reserve role over a drive, he added: “It’s certainly something that’s realistic, yeah.

“That’s the two realistic options. It’s not to be anywhere else.

“I love other disciplines of motorsport but I don’t see myself there. I feel as well if I jump into something like that, and then it closes the door on F1. It kind of feels like I’ve checked out, and I haven’t. So I’m solely focused on F1.

“My team is talking with, I want to say, pretty much everyone, or they’re having conversations, so we’re just trying to put it all together and figure out what makes the most sense.

“So it’s not that they’re not calling or they’re not interested, I know that sounds… I’m not coming from a place of overconfidence, but we’re just doing our due diligence and figuring out what’s best.

“I’m trying to kind of see beyond next year, for me of course I want to be racing but I also don’t want to just look at the next 12 months and not look at the next 24.”

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Nico Rosberg and Paul Di Resta discuss what’s gone wrong for Daniel Ricciardo and his options for 2023. 

The 33-year-old’s two seasons with McLaren peaked with victory at last year’s Italian GP, but for the most part he has been clearly outperformed by team-mate Lando Norris, while the team have rarely been able to compete for podiums.

Ricciardo secured seven wins with Red Bull between 2014 and 2018 before leaving to join Renault, with whom he spent two disappointing seasons before joining McLaren, and admits the contrast between the level of competitiveness during those stops is impacting his latest decision.

“Having been through it the last few years, I know there is something that you fight for,” he said. “Monza last year was the best-case scenario in fighting for a win, but what fighting at the front does, when you’ve had that taste, it’s real and that’s ultimately where I want to be.

“So I guess I don’t want to just race to race, I want to race with a true belief or understanding that I could be back on the podium ultimately.”

Steiner: Haas not waiting on Ricciardo

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner, who has previously expressed his interest in acquiring Ricciardo’s services for the 2023 season, insisted he wasn’t waiting on the Australian’s decision but also refused to rule out hiring him.

“I don’t want to speak for Daniel. I think he’s weighing up what he wants to do,” Steiner said.

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Red Bull F1 team principal Christian Horner says he is saddened by the announcement that McLaren are to replace Ricciardo for the 2023 season, adding that he is ‘one of the best guys’ in the sport.

“That is my biggest thing, he needs to weigh up what he wants to do, if he decides to join a team at the back of the grid, that doesn’t mean he cannot move on up the grid, and I’m sure he didn’t mean what he said in a negative way.

“He needs to find out what he wants to do in life, and that will take him time, because this is a big decision for his career, and I’m sure he takes it very carefully what he wants to do.

“I’m not waiting for him to answer what he wants to do, just to clarify that.

“Once he decides what he wants to do, he will let everybody know, but I don’t know and I think he doesn’t know at the moment.”