Pierre Gasly’s early days in Formula 1 are marked by impressive performances, albeit with struggles under the intense pressure of joining the top-tier team, Red Bull Racing, prematurely. He finds his niche in the smaller sister team, AlphaTauri (previously known as Scuderia Toro Rosso). In 2020, he secures his first Grand Prix victory in Monza. As of 2023, the French driver will be racing for the Alpine team.
Red Bull Junior Team
Pierre Gasly has been part of the Red Bull Junior Team since 2014, the training arm of Red Bull Racing. He makes his Formula 1 debut three years later with Toro Rosso, stepping in for Daniil Kvyat. His performance is noteworthy, securing a fourth-place finish in his seventh Grand Prix. Despite his promising start, his move to Red Bull in 2019 proves challenging. Gasly struggles to find his rhythm in the top team, seemingly succumbing to mental pressure. After twelve races, he is reassigned to Toro Rosso. Back in his comfort zone, Gasly’s performance improves significantly. He rewards the team with a podium finish at the 2019 Brazil GP, and a season later, he outdoes himself. At the Monza circuit, he successfully holds off Carlos Sainz to win the Italian GP. This marks only the second victory for Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri since Sebastian Vettel’s win in 2008.
Assuming Responsibility
In 2021, Gasly takes on a more significant role at AlphaTauri. With rookie Yuki Tsunoda as his teammate, Gasly is expected to primarily assist his team with car development. He initially embraces this role, achieving several notable results, including a third-place podium finish in Baku, Azerbaijan. However, 2022 sees a less impressive performance from Gasly and Tsunoda. AlphaTauri finishes disappointingly as the second-to-last team in the constructors’ championship, just ahead of Williams. During the season, it is announced that Gasly, after eight years with the Red Bull family, has decided to explore new opportunities. Starting in 2023, Gasly will be driving for Alpine, alongside his compatriot Esteban Ocon, a former karting rival.
