Williams empty-handed in knock-on effect of Fernando Alonso’s bombshell move
Fernando Alonso leaving Alpine caughtಌ everyone off guard♏ - including the French team itself.
His switch for next season has had a significant knock-on effect on the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:rest of the driver market.
Shortly after Alonso’s move was announced, 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Alpine anno𓄧unced the promotion of Oscar Piastri for 2023 alongside Esteban Ocon.
Piastri th✃en posted on social media that he wouldn’t be driving for Alpine next year, stating that he had found a drive elsewhere,🅰 likely to be McLaren.
While Alpine, McLaren and Daniel Ricciardo have dominated the media headlines as a result of last week’s mayhem,🐻 one team that has been affected as a result is Willia🐼ms.
It is 🎉under𝔉stood that Alpine wanted to keep Alonso for one more year while placing Piastri at Williams alongside Alex Albon.
Alpine wanted to bed Piastri into F1 b🌱y placing him in a less competitive team, like Mercedes did ♏with George Russell.
However, Alonso’s move to Aston Martin has changed everything, leading to knock-on ef♒f🌸ects up and down the paddock.
🔯Williams needs to find a teammate for Albon - but who are the c✤andidates?
Who will take the second Williams seat?
Current driver Nicholas Latifi remai𒀰ns a potential option.
The Canadian brings much-needed sponsorship to the team but꧅ he remains the only driver on the grid not to score a point this season.
Also, Latifi appears to have taken a step back in outright performance this year as he’s been dominated by Albon in the opening꧑ 13 races of 🃏2022.
Williams have Logan Sargꦜeant as part of their junior acꦏademy.
The American has impressed in F2, sitting third in the championship behind Felipe Drugovich (who has no F1 affil🦄iation) and Theo Pourchaire (Sauber academy).
However, team boss Jost Capito has hinted that 2023 might be too early for Sargeant despite his impressive season for♕ Carlin.
Reignin๊g Formula E champion and current Mercedes reserve driver Nyck de Vries remains in the frame having been linked with Will𝐆iams last year but Albon got the seat instead.
De Vries ♍is looking to find a drive in a motorsport series ౠnext year as Mercedes are pulling out of Formula E.
An alternative option that would tick a꧙ lot of boxes for 🔥Williams would be Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu.
Not only does Zho😼u bring significant financial backing from🤡 China, he’s performed solidly during his rookie season.
Despite his minimal points total, in recent races, Zhou has run Valtteri B🦩♌ottas close and would be an upgrade on Latifi.
More importan𝄹tly, despite his lack of experience, Zhou hasn’t had too many shunts - something Latifi has done frequently over the past 12 months.
But, with Alfa Romeo significantly ahead of Williams in the F1 pecking order, it’s unlikely Zhou would want to switch unless he’s guaranteed a multi-year deal or Alfa opt to p🦩romote Pourchaire.
Whoever Williams put alongside Albon for 2023, it’🌄s likely to be a downgrade on their fir🦩st choice - Piastri.
With a sharp🦩 eye for F1’s controversies and storylines, Connor is the heartbeat of our unbiased re🦂porting.
