Pierre Gasly linked with Alpine switch despite a confirmed 2023 AlphaTauri seat

Pierre Gasly has found himself at the centre of the 2023 'silly season'.

Although already officially confirmed to drive for AlphaTauri next year, the Frenchman was heard on video at Spa last weekend telling Charles Leclerc and George Russell that his team is "working on the final details of the contract".

Most assume the Frenchman was referring to speculation that he could be the replacement for Aston Martin-bound Fernando Alonso at the Renault-owned Alpine team.

"If you guys had any idea what we were talking about, you would laugh," Gasly told reporters at Zandvoort.

"I can guarantee that what was said had nothing to do with Formula 1."

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Committed to AlphaTauri

The 26-year-old insisted he remains committed to AlphaTauri and "nothing has changed".

Tellingly, however, he - like Esteban Ocon - played down suggestions that his strained relations with Alpine's current French driver might impede the move.

"We have known each other for a long time," Gasly said, "and I have a lot of respect for him as a driver."

What is clear is that the Gasly speculation appears to be a further blow to Mick Schumacher's chances of remaining in F1 next year, as the German has also been linked with the Alpine seat. But if Gasly does make the move, that would open up a seat at Red Bull-owned AlphaTauri.

"Why should Alpha Tauri take Mick Schumacher?" former F1 driver Marc Surer told motorsport-total.com. "They have their own youth development program. To me, this move doesn't make much sense."

Schumacher, meanwhile, wouldn't comment on speculation that he is set to be dropped by Ferrari's driver academy.

"That's a contractual matter which I can't go into detail