Red Bull aim to decide on Gasly replacement "by Monza"

Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has revealed that the team hopes to decide on Pierre Gasly's replacement before the Italian Grand Prix in just over a week. Gasly will leave Toro Rosso at the end of the season, joining Red Bull in place of the departing Daniel Ricciardo.

"It's only his second season so he lacks experience," Marko said. "But he will not be far from Max [Verstappen] in pure speed in qualifying. Then we expect him to be adequately replacing Ricciardo by the middle of the season," the Austrian added.

With Red Bull's current junior programme having a lack of drivers ready to enter the F1 arena, the team may look elsewhere. However, Dan Ticktum, who joined the Red Bull junior programme in 2017, has been linked to the seat for the 2019 season. But he faces a tough route to the pinnacle of motorsport following a ban in 2016.

Should the Briton win the European Formula 3 Championship this year, he will acquire 30 super license points - 10 short of what is needed to race full-time in F1. The 19-year-old was blocked from taking part in an in-season F1 test in Hungary a few weeks ago, something that baffled Red Bull.

"I think it's slightly odd that you've got a driver that's won Macau and been winning races in Formula 3 this year but can't drive at a young driver test," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. "That needs looking at. I think it's something the FIA are considering, when there are drivers who have arguably achieved less that are able to compete."

Other names have also been linked with Toro Rosso. McLaren reserve driver Lando Norris was reportedly approached by the team earlier this season as an immediate step in for Brendon Hartley, but McLaren denied the move.

McLaren's current driver Stoffel Vandoorne has been rumoured to be on Toro Rosso's shortlist should he lose his seat at the Woking team, while 2017/18 Formula E champion could return to his former team after he confirmed he had been approached for a return to Formula 1.

And Red Bull does not want to waste any time deciding who will line-up in its junior team next year, with its head of driver development Helmut Marko telling Servus TV: "We want to decide the replacement for Gasly by Monza."

Fergal Walsh