Pierre Gasly to race for Alpha Tauri in 2021 after agreeing new deal to stay with F1 outfit next season

Alpha Tauri confirmed on Wednesday that driver Pierre Gasly will continue to race for the team as they edge closer to 2021.

Coming off the back of a fifth-place finish at the Portuguese Grand Prix, Gasly’s 2020 campaign has been a positive one which sees him in ninth in the standings for the Formula 1 Drivers Championship. He took a shock victory at Monza, Italy, in September which saw the Frenchman add his name to the tally of Grand Prix winners.

The 24-year old has been one of the standout drivers of the 2020 season with some suggesting that he could have potentially returned to Red Bull Racing just 13 months after being demoted by the Austrian-based team.

These reports were played down last week by Christian Horner as he said Red Bull would be in ‘exactly the same situation’ if they were to swap current Red Bull driver Alexander Albon and Gasly for the second year in a row.

‘I’m extremely happy to continue with Scuderia Alpha Tauri 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 and 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. I’m looking forward to next year’s challenge and continuing with Alpha Tauri 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.’

There is no news on Gasly’s team-mate for the upcoming season although Formula 2 starlet Yuki Tsunoda, as well as Red Bull’s Albon, are two names linked with potentially replacing Daniil Kvyat at Alpha Tauri for 2021.

Thai-British driver Albon is currently driving for his Red Bull seat as the team weigh up their options ahead of the 2021 season with the likes of Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg available in the current driver market as they look to get a team-mate who can close to gap to Max Verstappen.

By Cameron Anderson-Jones