Publications
Several Formula 1 drivers jumped ship to different teams ahead of the 2023 season. Be it for whatever reason, it is a fresh start for many as they look to rekindle their personal ambitions in the pinnacle of motorsport.
The 2022 round of musical chairs began when Sebastian Vettel announced his retirement after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix earlier this year, with several drivers filling seats in the aftermath of the announcement.
We list all the drivers joining new teams next year.
Fernando Alonso
Alonso returned to F1 in 2021 with the team he won his two championships with in 2005/6: Renault. He performed exceptionally well and outscored teammate Esteban Ocon. However, with the team being renamed Alpine in 2022, the name change did not deliver on the exciting prospects.
Alonso suffered technical failures throughout the year and said that poor reliability had cost him more than 60 points this year.
He will join Aston Martin next year, replacing Vettel and teaming up with team owner Lawrence Stroll's son, Lance.
Pierre Gasly
Gasly has been a Red Bull driver throughout his F1 career, so imagine the surprise when rumours began circulating that he is on Alpine's radar to replace Alonso. Gasly was in the running for the seat against Haas' Mick Schumacher, but he eventually got the nod when Alpine and Red Bull (AlphaTauri's parent company) came to an agreement.
Gasly's reason for leaving the Red Bull fraternity is simple: he is unlikely to be roped in to partner Max Verstappen at the A-team again and believes Alpine is the outfit that could steer him to the F1 World Championship.
It remains to be seen if Alpine will iron out the poor reliability that plagued them in 2022 next year.
Nyck de Vries
De Vries will finally get his chance at a full-time racing seat in 2023, even if it is with a team not affiliated with Mercedes-AMG.
At 27-years-old, De Vries is not the youngest driver to make his debut, but he impressed at this year's Italian Grand Prix when he participated in the first practice session for Aston Martin, and then FP3, qualifying, and the race for Williams - standing in for Alex Albon.
With Nicholas Latifi's future at Williams over, De Vries was a contender for the seat, but talks with Red Bull's Helmut Marko soon resulted in him taking Gasly's vacant seat.
Though it's still too early to say, it is speculated that if De Vries performs next year, he could replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull in 2024 and partner Verstappen to form an all-Dutch line-up.
Nyck de Vries is out for delivery ??
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 20, 2022
Sender: @MercedesAMGF1
Recipient: @AlphaTauriF1
?? x @skysportformel1#AbuDhabiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/1ykAbtKE4n
Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo is... home. The Aussie departed Red Bull at the end of the 2018 season, but returns after four years away at Renault and McLaren. Sadly for the Honey Badger, his time away did not yield any notable successes, bar his victory at the 2021 Italian GP.
Still, the win wasn't enough for McLaren to follow through with Ricciardo's three-year contract and the team released the driver with one year remaining. His replacement? Fellow Aussie and 2021 Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri.
But Ricciardo returns to Red Bull as the team's third driver, ready to step up if Verstappen and Perez cannot participate in a race. His role will be largely directed at marketing and media responsibilities, but the winner of eight races says he is happy with his decision. 2023 will also be a year of reflection, presenting him with an opportunity to refocus and challenge for a full-time return in 2024.
Nico Hulkenberg
Hulkenberg and De Vries' inclusions in this list might seem strange, but it's because both drivers actively competed in races this year.
Hulkenberg took part in two races - Bahrain and Saudi Arabia - standing in for a Covid-stricken Vettel. Though he failed to score points, he has been dubbed F1's 'super sub', given his ability to strap into the cockpit and deliver, despite limited preparation time.
With Schumacher underperforming at Haas, the team reached out to The Hulk and confirmed him as Kevin Magnussen's teammate next year ahead of the Abu Dhabi GP.
Haas team boss Guenther Steiner said of Hulkenberg, who returns to a full-time racing seat since 2019: "I'm naturally very pleased to be welcoming Nico Hulkenberg back to a full-time racing role in F1.
"The experience and knowledge base Nico brings to the team is clear to see - with nearly 200 career starts in F1 - and a reputation as being a great qualifier and a solid, reliable racer."
