BWT Alpine F1 Team have announced the replacement of Fernando Alonso for the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season.

A Grand Prix winner with multiple podiums Pierre Gasly will drive alongside Esteban Ocon completing an all French line up for the French team.

Gasly joins the team on a multi-year contract from AlphaTauri having moved back to the team after a difficult spell with Red Bull.

Pierre Gasly said: “I am delighted to join the Alpine family and begin this new chapter in my Formula 1 career. Driving for a team that has French roots is something very special.

“I know the strengths of Alpine having raced against them over the past couple of years and, clearly, their progress and ambition is very impressive. I wish to thank Red Bull as this marks the end of our 9-year journey together.

“It is thanks to their trust and support that I became a Formula 1 driver, and what we’ve achieved with Scuderia AlphaTauri over the last years has been very special.

“Looking ahead, I want to give the maximum and utilise all my experience to fight for podiums and ultimately contribute to Alpine’s fight for championships in the future.”

Gasly comes from Rouen in Normandy, France, completes Alpine’s all-French line-up, the first in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship since 1995 when Larrousse were set to enter with Christophe Bouchut and Éric Bernard.

The 26-year-old made his Formula 1 debut in 2017 with Scuderia Toro Rosso following his 2016 GP2 Series championship title.

He moved to current World Champions Red Bull Racing before returning to Toro Rosso where he took his maiden victory at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix while driving for AlphaTauri.

He is well-known to the Renault Group having won the 2013 Formula Renault Eurocup Championship as well as finishing Vice-Champion in the 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 Series before competing for Renault e.dams in Formula E.

The drivers and teams will focus on the rest of the 2022 season starting with the Japanese Grand Prix.