MILTON KEYNES, England – Aston Martin Red Bull Racing will race with a new driver line-up following the annual Formula One World Championship summer break.
Alexander Albon is being promoted to Aston Martin Red Bull Racing to drive alongside Max Verstappen, while Pierre Gasly will return to the Red Bull sister team, Scuderia Toro Rosso.
The pair will debut in their new rides during next month’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
“Red Bull are in the unique position of having four talented Formula One drivers under contract, who can be rotated between Aston Martin Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso. The team will use the next nine races to evaluate Alex’s performance, in order to make an informed decision as to who will drive alongside Max in 2020,” said Red Bull officials in a team statement. “Everyone at Aston Martin Red Bull Racing looks forward to welcoming Alex to the team and supporting him during the next phase of his F-1 career.”
Gasly has struggled during his first season with the Red Bull primary team, failing to reach the podium in 12 races this year, while teammate Max Verstappen has two wins and a pole during that same span.
Meanwhile, Albon has shone in his debut season in F-1, with the Englishman already having earned points in four races – including a career-best sixth-place result during last month’s German Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring.
This is the second time Red Bull has demoted one of their primary drivers in recent history. They made the same move with Daniil Kvyat in 2016, making way for Verstappen’s F-1 debut. Verstappen went on to win his Red Bull debut, during the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.