F1: Red Bull relaxed over Max Verstappen’s future but what about Pierre Gasly?

Formula 1 news and rumours

Horner relaxed over Verstappen

Red Bull Racing principal Christian Horner believes there is no reason why Max Verstappen would leave the team.

The 21-year-old reportedly has a performance-related exit clause in his contract, but in the past three races he has secured wins in Austria and Germany.

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Speaking to Crash.net Horner said: “I’m totally relaxed about it. I think Max is enjoying driving within the team, he sees the progress that we’re making.

“I don’t see any risk with that. We’ve just got to keep focusing on getting performance to the car. We’re at the halfway stage of the championship now, we’ve won two races. We’ve had a couple of other podiums.”

What about Gasly?

Red Bull may be relaxed about Verstappen but the same can’t be said for his team-mate Pierre Gasly. The Frenchman has struggled since stepping up from Toro Rosso and is “under the microscope” at the senior team, says GrandPX.

His future at Red Bull is in doubt with reports claiming that Toro Rosso drivers Daniil Kvyat and Alex Albon could be in line to replace him for 2020.

Red Bull’s driver manager Dr Helmut Marko talked up the Toro Rosso duo by saying: “Kvyat is a gifted racer, and Albon has again shown his fighting qualities. That’s a good prospect for the future.”

Tost: Kyvat ready for Red Bull return

Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat drove superbly last weekend to secure a podium spot at the German Grand Prix. His boss Franz Tost feels the Russian is ready for a return to Red Bull, having previously driven for them.

Tost told Motorsport.com: “He is much more experienced now, he knows now what to do, how to handle everything - he is another step forward.

“This is the reason I always say I need drivers for three years to educate the driver, and then he is ready to go to Red Bull. Because Red Bull is another level. Red Bull is a team fighting for victories, fighting for championships.”

Gasly needs more time

However, when asked about his former driver Gasly, Tost said the 23-year-old should be given more time to prove himself at the senior team.

“Pierre is also a high-skilled driver, I rate him very high, although his year so far he was not so lucky and didn’t show the performance maybe he himself expected,” Tost added.

“But you must not forget Max Verstappen is established in this team, and he is unbelievably fast - and you know, maybe the car does not fit so well to the driving style of Pierre and he has to get used to this. But this takes time, and I hope that Red Bull will give him time, because he will be there.”