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AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly explains his struggles this season; also outlining his future goals
Pierre Gasly talks about the issues in 2022, but also his growth as a driver, leading to him being ready for a top team.
The AlphaTauri driver will be celebrating his 100th Grand Prix in Formula One at the next race in Belgium.
The Frenchman was given his Formula One debut in Malaysia in 2017, driving for Toro Rosso. Five years later, the 26-year-old has had a rollercoaster ride, experiencing the highs of winning the Italian Grand Prix in 2020 and the lows of being demoted from Red Bull back to their sister team.
After an impressive 2021 campaign with AlphaTauri, the Frenchman was hoping for another good year. However, this was not the case, finding himself with a quarter’s worth of points than he had last year.
The 26-year-old was asked in an interview with motorsport.com why this was the case; the French driver responded:
“I think it’s very simple, there are two reasons. The first is linked to the loss of competitiveness in qualifying, a front on which we were doing very, very well last year.”
“I was consistently in Q3, in Q1 I only needed one set of tyres to pass the cut. That is the first reason that affected us this season. We are not competitive enough in qualifying and this makes the races uphill.
“The second is linked to the step forward made by our direct rivals, such as Alfa Romeo, Alpine, and even Haas,” Gasly said.
Gasly then continued, pointing out some of the characteristics of the 2022 AlphaTauri car that affects his performance on the track:
“There is a lot of difference from last year’s car. We lack downforce for sure.”
The 26-year-old believes that the AT03 comes to life on tracks full of low-speed corners, such as Monaco and Baku.
“On tracks with low-speed corners, such as Monaco and Baku, it’s better. Baku was our best weekend because on that track there are no corners in fourth gear. They are all in second or third gear, and for us this is the perfect scenario, the one in which we do well.
“If you look at Monaco, in the second sector, where there are only low-speed corners, we were always in the top five.”
However, the French driver points out the specific corners in which the car really struggles:
“As soon as there is a curve at high or medium speed, the problems begin, because for us it means sliding.”
“Either the front is too weak, and you have too much understeer or the car simply slips. I mean that the four wheels are slipping.”
Gasly has not made it a secret on him wanting to return to Red Bull; after impressing at AlphaTauri in 2020 and 2021.
However, Red Bull have their two drivers set in place. Max Verstappen has a contract until the end of the 2028 season. Whilst his teammate Sergio Perez has one until the end of the 2024 season.
“I am already working towards 2023. I know I will be with AlphaTauri until November 2023. So what I do now is something that will come in handy for next year as well.
“I’m not saying that this year we have to give up on aiming for important results. But I am aware that every small step, every feedback I can give, every direction in which I am pushing the team, will affect next year’s car.”
The driver born in Rouen then explained that the years with AlphaTauri have made him a more complete driver. The Frenchman believes that he can now take the big step up to a top team again.
“Now I am a much more complete driver.”
“I think I have shown that with a midfield car I was able to grow and achieve good results, and with all respect I have for AlphaTauri, there will always be a gap with a top team.
“We can reach a podium, even a victory proved that it is not impossible. There was a one percent chance and we did it. Last year I think it was a very consistent season. I wanted to show, which is that I am able to always be there, in qualifying and in the race, able to bring points to the team.”
Feature Image Credit: Peter Fox via Getty Images
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