Official: Pierre Gasly promoted to Red Bull
The big winner of the Formula 1 musical chairs is therefore Pierre Gasly. The Frenchman will be promoted within the Red Bull pipeline to move to the main team, alongside Max Verstappen.
This is a true achievement for Pierre Gasly, who is only 20 years old and now holds a position with Red Bull, one of the leading teams on the grid.
With the combined departures of Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz, the Frenchman was the ideal candidate for this coveted seat. But there have been so many twists and turns in the Red Bull pipeline over the years that another about-face wouldn’t have been so surprising.
The Frenchman was right to be patient after being sent into forced exile in Japan to compete in a Super Formula season following his GP2 title. There, he learned to work with Honda engineers, the engine supplier for Toro Rosso this season and for Red Bull next year. This was highlighted by Christian Horner, the team director: His dazzling performances this year with a team powered by Honda, during his first full season in Formula 1, have only reinforced his reputation as one of the most promising young drivers in motorsports. We are eager to bring Pierre’s speed, skills, and attitude to our team in 2019.
Just a year ago, his future was still far from clear. He only made his F1 debut starting from the Malaysian Grand Prix, replacing Daniil Kvyat, who was no longer in the good graces within the team. In this context, this appointment can only sound like a consecration: “Being rewarded with a seat at Aston Martin Red Bull Racing from 2019 is a dream come true for me. I am so eager to join this top team. It has been my goal to race for this team since I joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2013. This incredible opportunity is a significant step towards my ambition to win Grand Prix and fight for world championship titles.”
On the other hand, the big question is who will be the drivers for Toro Rosso next year. Indeed, Brendon Hartley, who was called back years after being released by the energy brand’s program, does not seem to satisfy his employers. His place in F1 next season is therefore far from guaranteed.
But the candidates within Red Bull’s fold are not plentiful either, while the number of Japanese drivers holding the precious Super Formula is simply zero. The closest is Nirei Fukuzumi, but he is in 18th place in the F2 championship, whereas he would need to finish in the top 4 to have the 40 valuable points.
With the participation of www.racingbusiness.fr
