Alpine earmarks four drivers for private F1 test in Hungary

Alpine has reportedly earmarked four drivers for an upcoming private Formula 1 test that is scheduled to take place at the Hungaroring.

It was reported earlier this week that Colton Herta was in line for the outing that will take place as part of F1's Testing of Previous Cars provision, meaning drivers will be entrusted with a 2021-spec Alpine A521 car.

In addition to Herta, Alpine junior Jack Doohan will be in action in Hungary as well as Nyck de Vries and Antonio Giovinazzi.

Save for Herta, who is hopeful of racing with AlphaTauri next season if the American is granted a superlicence exemption by the FIA, all drivers taking part in the test are considered as candidates to fill the seat that will be vacated at Alpine by Fernando Alonso at the end of the season.

As a reminder, Esteban Ocon is contracted to Alpine until the end of 2024.

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De Vries, who scored a remarkable ninth-place finish on his F1 debut with Williams last weekend at Monza, has been shortlisted by the Grove-based outfit and by Alpine, while Giovinazzi is seeking to return to F1 after a campaign in Formula E.

Alpine boss Laurent Rossi recently said that the Enstone squad is seeking first and foremost an experienced driver to succeed Alonso, but the Frenchman hasn't dismissed the candidacy of F2 charger and academy member Doohan.

"We need to find a driver that's capable of scoring big points right away," Rossi told Motosport.com in Monza last weekend.

"This basically leads us towards a more senior driver if you will, but at the same that is capable to grow with us. So those are the criteria we use at the moment."

Giovinazzi, who took part in FP1 at Monza last weekend with Haas and who will run again with the US outfit at Austin next month, is currently still contracted to Ferrari as a member of its Driver Academy.

But the Italian's affiliation with Scuderia is - like Mick Schumacher - under review for 2023, meaning a release could pave the way for him to join Alpine.

"I want to be here next year for sure, it's not a secret, but it's not on my hands," he said in Monza.

"So let's see what we can do, and for now I focus on doing a great job in these two sessions. One is over, now we have another one."

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