Breaking news
Formula 1
Red Bull backs Gasly to become "great" again
Pierre Gasly has what it takes to win a place back at Red Bull and become "great" again in Formula 1, reckons the energy drink company's motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.
Jonathan Noble Christian Nimmervoll
Published: Jan 29, 2020, 9:26 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Despite Red Bull having moved Gasly to Toro Rosso after a disappointing first half to last season, the way in which the Frenchman recovered and took a sensational podium finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix left the team and Marko deeply impressed.
"It was a blossoming that was incredible," said Marko in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com. "There, you can see what psychology is all about.
"If I would say now that I had expected this, it would be a complete lie. In contrast to [Daniil] Kvyat [who was moved to Toro Rosso in 2016], Gasly has risen again. Thank God for him and for us.
"I think he will have learned his lessons from these six months at Red Bull. I think that he can become a great man in the future."
Read Also:
- Gasly felt he had to disprove 'bullshit' claims about driving
- Kvyat a "living example" of bouncing back for Gasly
Red Bull always insisted that it moved Gasly to Toro Rosso because it felt it needed to ease the pressure on him and help him regain his confidence.
"I have to fight against the word 'demotion'," explained Marko. "We're talking about Formula 1: how many thousands of drivers dream and work to get into Formula 1?
"And now one goes from an F1 team that competes at the top to a team that drives in the midfield. He's still making money and he's still in the premier class. I would say that this is an opening of new opportunities and not a demotion."
Asked if Gasly understood that at the time of his move, Marko said: "Gasly didn't see it that way in the first moment, but now he sees it differently. And this is a phenomenon that is unbelievable.
"Pierre got into the Toro Rosso and immediately became the Gasly we had signed him up to be.
"The only reason why this happened to him in such a way, that he could bring all his strengths to bear in Toro Rosso, was that the Toro Rosso was easier to drive and the pressure was naturally lower.
"But I think the blame is also partly on Pierre, who came to Red Bull and was only looking at comparing himself [to Max Verstappen]. He didn't see anyone else in the entire field.
"He should have accepted that Max was faster and worked his way slowly, but he tried in his technique and all the other areas to see some shortcomings. But unfortunately that went completely wrong."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article How Giorgio Piola revisited Senna’s great F1 legacy
Next article Alonso: Rivals aren't exploiting Hamilton's "weakness"
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Pierre Gasly
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
Formula 1
Formula 1
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
‘I’m sideways all the time’ – How Alpine’s feral F1 car plagued Pierre Gasly in Singapore
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
‘I’m sideways all the time’ – How Alpine’s feral F1 car plagued Pierre Gasly in Singapore
More from
Red Bull Racing
Why Isack Hadjar doesn’t like F1 sprints anymore
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
11 h
Why Isack Hadjar doesn’t like F1 sprints anymore
Christian Horner: Kimi Antonelli has 'earned' the right to be Mercedes' number one
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
16 h
Christian Horner: Kimi Antonelli has 'earned' the right to be Mercedes' number one
Latest news
Zane Smith fined $50,000 by NASCAR for ramming Carson Hocevar after Phoenix Cup race
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
6 h
Zane Smith fined $50,000 by NASCAR for ramming Carson Hocevar after Phoenix Cup race
FIA expects F1 races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi to continue as planned
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
10 h
FIA expects F1 races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi to continue as planned
TDS Racing doubles down on IMSA program with two-car LMP2 return
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 10 h
TDS Racing doubles down on IMSA program with two-car LMP2 return
Why Isack Hadjar doesn’t like F1 sprints anymore
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
11 h
Why Isack Hadjar doesn’t like F1 sprints anymore
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe