In the wake of Toro Rosso confirming Daniil Kvyat to partner Carlos Sainz in the team next season, Pierre Gasly says he cannot understand why he was overlooked for the seat with Red Bull’s junior team, and is now exploring alternatives to make his Formula 1 debut in 2017.
Indeed Gasly was reportedly earmarked to replace under-performing Kvyat mid-season, but the team opted out of such a move’ However it was expected that the young Frenchman would replace Kvyat in the team in 2017.
Gasly felt he was in a good place to earn promotion onto the F1 grid and told media, “The goal for me was to get in at Toro Rosso next year. I don’t understand their decision [to stick with Kvyat] and I didn’t get any reasons as well.
“It was kind of looking good for me, talking with Helmut [Marko] and trying to make it. Then I don’t know what has happened as in two or three days, everything went so quickly.”
“They signed Kvyat. I don’t understand it. From what I understood it seems I was in the right place but at the wrong time.”
Gasly insists he hasn’t given up hope of making it onto the 2017 grid, “I’m really disappointed, but now it is done and I need to move forward.”
With seats still to be confirmed at Force India, Renault, Sauber and Manor. There may still be alternative opportunities for the young Frenchman.
“I’m already looking to the future. Right now, it’s quite open in terms of options, There are still many seats available in Formula 1. I’ve talked quite a lot with Helmut [Marko] this weekend and he knows my target, that I want to make it into Formula 1.”
“We just need to find the best option, the best package, either in F1 or if we can’t make it in F1 next year, I do something good to get myself ready for 2018.”
“It’s not over,” declared the driver who lies second in the current GP2 Championship with two races still to run. “We lost one battle but we didn’t lose the war. It’s frustrating but I’ve learned since a long time that in F1, things are a bit strange sometimes but you need to deal with it.”
“It will make me stronger mentally and I’m more motivated than ever to win the title in GP2 at the end of next month.”
The 20-year-old goes to the season finale in Abu Dhabi’s GP2 seven points behind championship leader Antonio Giovinazzi.
Before Daniel Ricciardo signed on for Toro Rosso, he did half a season as an HRT driver in preparation for his promotion. A similar scenario may unfold for Gasly who is highly rated by Red Bull.
Team principal Christian Horner explained, “He will remain with the team. He is very valued and he has been conducting very good work with us.”
“He did the tyre test last week, which was how high we regard him. In terms of his race programme I don’t know but for us he will be test and reserve and conducting a lot of simulation work,” added Horner.
Read the full story at GRAND PRIX 247
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