Paul Jeffrey
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Toro Rosso have confirmed the surprise promotion on Red Bull Young Driver Pierre Gasly with immediate effect, replacing first team driver Daniil Kvyat from the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Although obviously a concern for the future prospects of Russian youngster Kvyat, Toro Rosso have stated that the driver remains part of the Red Bull family, and is merely being rested for the forthcoming events to allow the small Italian team to assess Gasley with a view to offering a full time seat next season.
Many Formula One insiders suspected the young Frenchman could make an early debut for Toro Rosso this season, however most expected the driver to step in for Carlos Sainz Jr, as the Spaniard looked set to make an early switch to his 2018 team Renault Sport. In something of a confusing game of musical chairs it appears that out-of-form Kvyat is now left standing when the music stops, potentially bringing to an end a less than spectacular stay in the top flight of open wheel motorsport.
Speaking of the surprise move to replace Kvyat, Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost was less than impressed by his current charge, whilst firmly hinting that Gasley is where the future of the team appears to rest, for 2018 at least;
“Scuderia Toro Rosso was established by Red Bull to bring youngsters from its Junior Programme into Formula 1 and that's what we are doing by giving Pierre this chance.
He (Gasly) is the next in line at Red Bull for this opportunity and he has shown that he deserves it, having taken the 2016 GP2 title and this year being very competitive in the Super Formula series in Japan.
"He really has a valid chance of winning the title, as he is only half a point behind the leader. The driver switch gives us an opportunity to make a more informed decision regarding our 2018 driver choices."
He (Gasly) is the next in line at Red Bull for this opportunity and he has shown that he deserves it, having taken the 2016 GP2 title and this year being very competitive in the Super Formula series in Japan.
"He really has a valid chance of winning the title, as he is only half a point behind the leader. The driver switch gives us an opportunity to make a more informed decision regarding our 2018 driver choices."
"For a variety of reasons, some of them due to technical problems, but others being mistakes of his own making, Daniil Kvyat has not really shown his true potential so far this year, which is why we are standing him down for the next races.
"This will give us the opportunity to evaluate Pierre on track during a proper race weekend."
"This will give us the opportunity to evaluate Pierre on track during a proper race weekend."
Understandably Gasly himself was delighted to be given a chance to race in points scoring machinery, with the driver set to compete this weekend in Malaysia and the following race in Japan. Further participation for Toro Rosso could prove difficult however due to clashing with his Super Formula commitments;
"I would like to thank everyone who has helped me get this chance in my motor racing career and specifically, Red Bull, Dr. Helmut Marko and Scuderia Toro Rosso...this is a great opportunity for me," he said.
"I feel as ready as I can be, having had to be prepared for anything in my role as Red Bull Racing's third driver this year. I will do my best to perform well with Scuderia Toro Rosso during these coming races."
"I feel as ready as I can be, having had to be prepared for anything in my role as Red Bull Racing's third driver this year. I will do my best to perform well with Scuderia Toro Rosso during these coming races."
Toro Rosso continue to asses all options for the coming season in light of the poor form displayed by Kvyat and the departure of Sainz to Renault, and with a potentially uncompetitive engine from Honda due to be strapped to the back of the two Faenza based cars for 2018, the team have decided now would be a good time to see if Gasly has what it takes to cut it against the sharp end of the F1 field.
In Gasly’s advantage will be his intimate knowledge of Suzuka from his time spent this year in the Super Formula series, however with limited F1 seat time and two very difficult Grand Prix ahead of him, these next couple of weeks will be a very tough test of the 21-year-old drivers ability to perform under pressure.
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What do you think of the decision to drop Kvyat for the next two races? Is this the end of his Formula One ambitions with the Red Bull group? Can Gasly do himself justice in such a short time? Let us know in the comments section below!
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- Regardless of what you think of him as a driver, him being forced out of a seat twice is an embarrassment that, as far as I am aware, no other driver has had to endure.
