Pierre Gasly Explains Max Verstappen’s Influence on His Red Bull F1 Return

French driver Pierre Gasly had a strong 2021 F1 season with the Scuderia AlphaTauri team. He finished 9th in the drivers’ standings, behind the four best constructors, in a season dominated by his former teammate Max Verstappen. Over time, Gasly has established himself as a formidable force behind the wheel, performing consistently to the best of his abilities.

An impressive stint earned him a place at the Red Bull team in 2019 but he was relegated back to Toro Rosso mid-season after a tough run as Verstappen’s teammate. Since then, the Frenchman has brushed up his skills significantly and also became a Grand Prix winner in 2020 at Monza. His contract with the team is ending after the 2022 season. There is an obvious possibility of Alpha Tauri signing him again, but he will look to explore better options.

After enough experience and performances to back him, Gasly is a highly sellable entity in F1. Many drivers are nearing the end of their respective contracts and he might soon have his time to be in a top car. An obvious choice would be to fill in for Sergio Perez who also finds himself in a similar position as Gasly. However, a lot will depend on how the upcoming season unfolds.

Pierre Gasly’s future with Red Bull lies on Max Verstappen

In a recent conversation with the F1 website The Race, Gasly discussed his future prospects. He believes Red Bull’s way ahead with Max Verstappen will, in a way, shape his future with the team. “I think it’s going to be a key move,” said Gasly about his next career step.

“We’ll have to see what the view of Red Bull is over the next few years because now it’s been eight years I’ve been with them. It’s a long time and obviously, at the moment they have a very competitive car.”

“I need to see what they are going to do with Max and how they move forward, but obviously I need to think also about my career. I’m still very young, I’m 25, but my goal is to be in the first seat once these guys [top teams] are going to look at who can be a replacement,” added the Frenchman.

The Milton Keynes team is currently in a contract with Verstappen that lasts till the end of the 2023 season, which is very likely to get an extension. The Dutchman famously said on the Radio after his maiden championship win that he wants to do it for another 10-15 years with the team.

Gasly’s first stint alongside the Dutch sensation was a tough one. However, three seasons and many impressive performances later, Gasly will find himself at the crossroads again at the end of 2022. Fans are surely hoping to see him in a car that can match his skills. Tell us your thoughts on the same in the comments below.

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