Gasly not expecting imminent decision on future
Pierre Gasly contracted to Red Bull until end of 2023 says Helmut Marko.
Fresh from the news that Esteban Ocon has signed a new three-year deal with Alpine, Pierre Gasly is not expecting his own future to be resolved any time soon.
Gasly, who has consistently continued to excel in his role at AlphaTauri after being demoted from Red Bull, was strongly linked on occasions with a seat at Alpine as Red Bull are seemingly very unlikely to promote him back to a senior seat alongside Max Verstappen.
But, in the past fews weeks in the midst of encouraging performances from Ocon at Alpine, the French team has been pouring cold water on suggestions that Gasly could be a target for them.
Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Dr Helmut Marko, too, said he was puzzled by reports that linked Gasly with a move there.
With Fernando Alonso contracted until at least the end of next season and Ocon’s long-term future now secure, the door is closed for Gasly at Alpine.
It now appears very likely Gasly will continue with AlphaTauri, but he said those discussions have not taken place yet and ultimately it will be up to Red Bull to decide his fate.
back on home soil @PierreGASLY 🇫🇷 👌 pic.twitter.com/MuQJhi9zDX
— Scuderia AlphaTauri (@AlphaTauriF1) June 17, 2021
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“My future, I think it’s still quite early,” Gasly told reporters during his FIA drivers’ press conference ahead of his home race in France.
“On my side, things are in the hands of Red Bull. At the end of the day, it will be up to them to make the decision whether we continue together, continue with AlphaTauri, with Red Bull, or other options.
“It’s something that at the moment we haven’t really talked yet. I guess we will see in the coming weeks and the coming months what we want to do.”
One key figure who will be very keen to keep hold of Gasly is AlphaTauri boss Franz Tost who, after Gasly’s latest podium finish with the team in Baku, called the Frenchman one of the “absolute top” drivers currently on the Formula 1 grid.
Red Bull themselves have also stated they are in no real rush to decide who partners Verstappen in 2022, even after Sergio Perez’s victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
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