AlphaTauri boss Tost hoping to keep both Gasly and Tsunoda for 2022

AlphaTauri are one of a number of teams yet to confirm their driver line-up for 2022, but Franz Tost says he wants to keep current pairing Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda on for next season.

Gasly has been scoring at a consistent rate this season with a podium in Azerbaijan to boot, and the Frenchman is a hot property in F1 after taking his maiden victory at Monza last year. As for Tsunoda, Tost said he expects the Japanese rookie to have a strong second half of 2022 – and wants to keep him on board for that reason.

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“Personally, I hope that we can continue with these two drivers because Pierre is a fantastic driver – very fast, very experienced, he fits really good to the team – and I want to keep Yuki as well, because, you know, we educated him for one year and I expect from him a very strong second half of the season,” he said.

Tsunoda has made errors including a recent crash in first practice at the Hungaroring and what he called a "huge mistake" at Imola – but Tost backed the rookie and said the 20-year-old is set to be amply prepared for next season.

“I must also say, that up to now, he is doing a good job because you must not forget that he is new, he is a rookie, said Tost.

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“Of course, sometimes he makes a little bit of a mistake but he is in a good [place] and if he continues like this then we will see a very strong second half of the season, and then be prepared for next year – therefore I hope he will be with Scuderia Alphatauri,” concluded the team boss.

AlphaTauri enjoyed a double-points haul in Hungary and sit sixth in the championship, 20 points ahead of Aston Martin.