Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes Pierre Gasly needs to reset himself in order to come back stronger in the coming races.
Gasly has failed to impress so far at his time at the energy drink team, receiving the promotion after Daniel Ricciardo opted to leave for Renault.
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The Frenchman has been heavily outperformed by teammate Max Verstappen, who won Red Bull's first race of the year last weekend in Austria, while Gasly finished a lap down.
"Pierre is having a tough time at the moment, we're doing our best to support him, I think he just needs a reset," Horner said.
"I think we have got to somehow press control-alt-delete in his head and start again.
"He is a quick driver. The problem he has got is that Max is delivering every week, and that puts more pressure on him to perform, but we're sticking by him.
"We still believe in him and we'll give him all the support we can to try and nurture the talent we know he has."
Despite the issues that Gasly is currently going through, Horner insists that there are no intentions to replace him, amid rumours that Daniil Kvyat could be close to a return.
"There is no intention to change Pierre," Horner said. "He's our driver, we're going to work with him, we will try to get the best out of him. He's having a tough time at the moment but we will do our best to support him through it."
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Replies (7)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Will Doctor Doom allow that though, I wonder? He is clearly being dominated by his team mate, and can hardly race cars that are significantly slower. I actually wanted him to do well, since I cheered for him last year, and I stand by that I feel the move was rushed, but RB ain't patient.
Manto02
Posts: 93
Kvyat was fired tho he performed better than Pierre, I'm sure Marko would want to replace gasly but he hasn't a lot of choice of drivers
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Kvyat was let go for a lot less. Kvyat would beat Ricciardo on occasion. He had flashes of brilliance. Kvyat would get on the podium. Gasly has done none of that. He's been embarrassing. RBR doesn't want to acknowledge that they messed up in their driver selection
Kean
Posts: 692
I think Kvyat was let go so swiftly because they had Verstappen waiting in the wings. What they have to choose form this time around is less exciting. Bet they wish now they could put Sainz in that car.
xoya
Posts: 583
Reset will probably come disguised as a demotion to Torro Rosso.
Who will go to RB instead, I wonder. Kvyat or Albon?
If I was Helmut, I'd put Kvyat back. I think it is too soon for Albon, as it was for Gasly.
Ideally, they will stick by Gasly at least until the middle of 2020 season, to see what's what, but I kinda don't see it happening. He has until end of this season, at best.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
Kvyat is quick, he would make a better teammate to max.
f1ski
Posts: 726
Hamilton, and Vettel might underperform compared to Max. Some big shoes to fill compared to verstappen. Clearly RBR is the 3rd best car in the hands of Verstappen 2nd best. I think Albon might have the second best race craft of the red bull drivers but he might be better served to feel more confident in the pressure cooker. Remember the pressure had a negative effect on Max till this year.