Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has confirmed Pierre Gasly can join Alpine “if our conditions are met”.
In recent days, speculation has increased over the Frenchman’s future after it was revealed that Gasly was Alpine’s top pick to replace Fernando Alonso for next season.
Ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, The Race reported an agreement is in place between Red Bull and Alpine over the terms for Gasly’s early release.
And on Friday, Marko revealed the current state of play.
“We have a valid contract for 2023, but in the meantime there are talks,” he told Sky Deutschland.
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“If our conditions are met, we wouldn’t stand in Gasly’s way. It would be a dream come true for him to drive in a French factory team.
“But not all the conditions have been met yet.”
One possibility no longer on the table was Alpine using compensation from McLaren for Oscar Piastri to buy out Pierre’s contract, this after the Contract Recognition Board ruled against the Enstone-based team.
As for potential Gasly replacements, Marko has been linked to tracking IndyCar’s Colton Herta, with the FIA reportedly considering whether the American can be granted a superlicence despite not amassing the necessary 40 points.
“He has already done a Formula 1 test, he was good,” the Austrian commented. “I don’t want to get into details. Let’s wait and see how this develops.”
Indeed, the Red Bull chief noted there are several options on the table for AlphaTauri.
“We’ve already thought about that, but we don’t want to announce that yet,” he added.
“We have some people in the junior squad who have a superlicence. For the reserve driver, we would recruit someone from that.”
Another name mentioned was Mick Schumacher, who is understood to be cutting ties with Ferrari at the end of 2022.
However: “He’s not an issue for us. He is – or was – a Ferrari junior. That’s why we’ve never dealt with Mick Schumacher,” Marko said.
“We have our own programme. Of course, we prefer our own people.”