Gasly: 2021 ‘probably my most consistent year’ to date

Mark Scott
Pierre Gasly congratulates Max Verstappen. Abu Dhabi December 2021

Pierre Gasly congratulates former team-mate Max Verstappen on his World Championship title. Abu Dhabi December 2021

Pierre Gasly has been left encouraged by his 2021 season and feels it is his most consistent year to date in Formula 1.

After being dropped from the Red Bull senior team midway through the 2019 campaign, it would have been easy for Gasly’s performances to be at a poor level.

But, the 2021 season has only further cemented the Frenchman as one the strongest drivers in Formula 1’s midfield, placing on the podium in Baku and finishing within the top six on nine occasions during the year.

Gasly was also super consistent on qualifying days as well and finished the season with one of the best starting grid spot averages before penalties were applied.

All that considered, Gasly believes the season could not have gone much better given he was up against some pretty fierce competition within Formula 1’s midfield.

“I think the balance between quali and race, you can’t adjust the car, it’s a fine line,” Gasly said, as quoted by Motorsport Week.

“I think our car was generally strong in quali more than the race, and finding in terms of set-up and potential to extract the maximum, I feel I’ve made a step, you get more confident, this year was probably my most consistent year.

“You always make mistakes but you try and reduce them and maximise the opportunities you have, so I feel this year I made a step.”

Even though Gasly has made no secret of the fact that he wants to be back fighting at the very top end of the grid, he did appreciate the benefits of continuity at AlphaTauri as he played the role of team leader guiding rookie recruit Yuki Tsunoda.

 

“For me the key point this year was really carrying for another [full] year with a team, which was the first time it happened for me in Formula 1,” Gasly said.

“So we had a lot better understanding of what we need from each other with the group of engineers, and also having a bit more impact with what I need from the car – obviously with Yuki [Tsunoda] coming as a rookie, there was a bit more responsibility on the direction we take.

“I feel I’ve learned a lot technically, being more involved.”

Gasly will return for another season with AlphaTauri in 2022 alongside Tsunoda.

Season review: Gasly the clear star for mid-table AlphaTauri

Pierre Gasly was the star of the show at AlphaTauri this season.