Alesi sticks with Trident for third GP3 campaign

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Giuliano Alesi is staying put at Trident for a third shot at winning the GP3 Series championship.

The 18-year-old son of former Formula 1 driver Jean Alesi made his début in the support series in 2016. He picked up only a solitary point in his maiden season.

However he improved to clinch three wins the following year at Silverstone, the Hungaroring and Spa-Francorchamps.

It meant that he was the second most winning driver of the season. He was also runner-up in the sprint race at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria.

Alesi finished the year in fifth place on 99 points, with the top four places locked-out by ART. George Russell clinched the title in dominant fashion over team mate Jack Aitken.

Now, Alesi is hoping that 2018 will be Trident's year.

"I am extremely happy to remain on board with Team Trident for the 2018 GP3 Series!," he said this week.

"I worked so hard with the team and the Ferrari Driver Academy in the last few seasons.

Alesi takes maiden GP3 win at Silverstone

"My goal is now to reward them with some absolutely excellent results. I feel ready for a high-profile season!"

2018 will be only his fourth year in single seater competition. Prior to joining the GP3 Series, Alesi spent a season in the 2015 French Formula 4 series after stepping up from karting.

Team owner Maurizio Salvadori signalled his own delight at the news that Trident had held on to Alesi.

“We are absolutely delighted to announce the extended collaboration with Giuliano Alesi," he said.

"He has exquisite manners and he is an extremely professional driver with a brilliant future ahead," he added.

"Our priority will be to support him with the utmost commitment and enable him to aim for the most ambitious goals."

As for Giuliano's famous father, former Scuderia stalwart Jean Alesi, he believes his son is clearly on the right path.

"I expect good results," Alesi Snr said.

"Working with the academy is a guarantee -- Giuliano can thrive without rushing."

The 53-year-old Grand Prix winner says isn't keen however on seeing his son test an F1 car anytime soon.

"I would lie down in front of the pit exit!" he said.

"Giuliano must only think about GP3. If he wants to sit in a Formula 1e car, then he can jump in one at home and I'll take a picture."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.