Career change? Pierre Gasly becomes a football pundit

Pierre Gasly got his first taste of life as an Alpine driver in the post-season test at Abu Dhabi, but he has seemingly quickly opted for a career change.

Pierre Gasly’s 2022 season is officially complete, with the Frenchman having wrapped up his sixth and final season with AlphaTauri before taking part in the post-season test with Alpine.

Gasly has enjoyed a lot of success at the Faenza-based team, where in his six-year spell with the Italians he claimed the side’s first win since 2008 as well as two further podiums.

The Frenchman’s win at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix was a symbolic one, with it having not only been his first win in F1, but also the team’s first since a baby-faced Sebastian Vettel won at the same venue in 2008.

Podiums at the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix and the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix wrapped up his top three triumphs with the side, who took a step backwards this year.

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The new aerodynamic regulations haven’t been kind to AlphaTauri, with the side having been somewhat of a lower midfield side all season.

In the end they had to settle for ninth in the Constructors’ Championship, their lowest finish since finishing ninth in 2018, whilst known as Toro Rosso.

Gasly, too, suffered his lowest finish in the Drivers’ Championship since 2018 also, after ending the year in P14, having scored just 23 points.

He’ll be targeting an instant return to the top 10 in 2023, considering the fact he’s joining the fourth strongest side on the grid.

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At Alpine he’ll be forming an all-French line-up with Esteban Ocon, sealing a French set-up at the French team.

He got his first taste of his new team on Tuesday at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, where he ended the day fourth on the timesheets after completing 130 laps.

Gasly was quick to thank the entire Enstone-based team for welcoming him into their side, whilst he also admitted that he got a “fantastic feeling” from driving the team’s 2022 challenger.

“Firstly, thanks to the entire team for making me feel so welcome over the last two days and I’m feeling ready to begin this next chapter in my career,” Gasly said in Alpine’s official press release.

“It was a fantastic feeling to drive the A522 for the first time, and, I must say, it’s an impressive car.

“The objectives for me today were all about getting used to my new surroundings, working closely with the engineers and, generally, building up my learning in the car and getting an understanding for its characteristics.

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“We completed many laps – as per our plan – and I’m already very excited to fully embed myself in the team. I’m looking forward to visiting everyone at Viry and Enstone, debriefing on this test, before working towards our objectives alongside Esteban for the 2023 season.”

It appears that Gasly didn’t hang around in Abu Dhabi for long on Tuesday, after being spotted in Qatar watching his national team play against Australia in the FIFA World Cup.

Gasly was spotted both in the grandstands and then on French TV, where he was interviewed at half-time.