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Pierre Gasly is targeting a full-time drive with Toro Rosso in 2018 as the rumours about the Red Bull junior team's lineup rambles on. The Frenchman has been part of the Red Bull programme for many years now, and hoped to get a seat for the 2017 season after he won the 2016 GP2 championship.
However, Toro Rosso chose to retain Daniil Kvyat and Carlos Sainz, and with no other drive available, Gasly headed off to Japan to compete in Super Formula. Currently, he sits eighth in the standings.
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The future of Carlos Sainz is in major doubt after Red Bull revealed that the Spaniard would be allowed to leave the junior team if he was bought for the right price. If he was to depart, it would be Gasly who would come in and fill the vacant seat.
"For me my target is still the same. At the moment nothing is signed in Toro Rosso," he told NBC Sports. "Of course at the moment everyone is talking with everyone, and every week it's changing. Until it will be official, I think everything is possible. Of course my targets stay the same after winning GP2 last year. I just feel like I am ready for F1. I will keep pushing until it happens."
Gasly was then asked the question would he remain with the Red Bull programme in 2018 if he was not to get a race seat in F1: "At the moment I’m just focused on F1, and then after we will see in a couple of months what will happen for next year."
Fergal Walsh
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (2)
Login to replyf1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
Its likely, especially if Sainz will leave
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I see no reason not to get rid of Kvyat and get Pierre in there. The investment in Kvyat is a sunk cost. Red Bull needs to get over it and start cultivating talent.
That being said, Red Bull has a big challenge with their current strategy because Verstappen is so you and will be there for a while (if they are able to keep him) and Ricciardo has no reason or intention to leave either. Youngster would be rightfully wary of their prospects of moving to the senior team.