Pierre Gasly reflects on 'relief' of 2019 Red Bull demotion

Pierre Gasly has described feeling a sense of relief when he was demoted from Red Bull back to Toro Rosso mid-way through the 2019 Formula 1 season. The French driver, now with Alpine, opened up about the lack of support and difficult environment he faced as Max Verstappen's teammate, which ultimately prevented him from showing his true potential.

Why it matters:

Gasly's candid account sheds light on the immense pressure and challenging team dynamics faced by drivers paired with a team's established superstar, particularly within the Red Bull system. His experience highlights a recurring narrative for Verstappen's teammates and the psychological toll of operating in a high-stakes, unsupportive environment, even at the pinnacle of motorsport.

The details:

• Gasly joined Red Bull for 2019 after a promising rookie season with Toro Rosso, where he finished 15th in the standings and 25 points clear of teammate Brendon Hartley.
• His stint at the senior team lasted just 12 races before he was replaced by Alex Albon ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.
• In a recent interview, Gasly revealed the 2019 season felt isolating, stating, "there was no support from anywhere, in a very big team which is very much supporting Max."
• He cited a lack of ideal tools to perform, including being paired with a race engineer who had recently joined from Formula E without prior F1 experience, calling it a "strange dynamic."
• Despite his efforts to fight his own way, Gasly felt he couldn't showcase his potential, leading to mutual dissatisfaction between driver and team.
• The return to Toro Rosso, while carrying negative energy, ultimately brought a feeling of relief from the intense pressure cooker at Red Bull.

The big picture:

Gasly's story is a familiar one in the Red Bull narrative, where young drivers are promoted with high expectations but often struggle to match Verstappen's immediate pace and favor within the team. His subsequent revival at Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls), which included a dramatic maiden victory at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, proved his capability outside that specific pressure. His journey underscores how team environment and support structures are as critical to a driver's success as raw talent and car performance.

What's next:

Now established at Alpine, Gasly is focused on helping the French squad climb the competitive order. His Red Bull chapter, while difficult, provided hard-earned experience that shapes his current role as a team leader. For Red Bull, the search for a consistent and competitive teammate for Verstappen continues, with Sergio Perez currently in that seat but under constant scrutiny to perform.