Gasly to impress Toro Rosso for regular spot
UP- AND- coming F1 drivers are always looking for the chance to impress their teams and gain a regular place in the driving stable.
So, expect Pierre Gasly to grab with both hands the opportunity to drive for Toro Rosso at the Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix this weekend.
The Toro Rosso outfit had announced on Tuesday that Gasly would replace Daniil Kvyat for the next two races – the Malaysia GP and Japanese GP (next weekend) as the team evaluate his performance, with a full season offer on the cards for 2018.
Gasly plans to make good use of the opportunity offered at this late stage of the championship.
“I haven’t had the chance to talk to Kvyat but that’s how the sport works.
“I have the chance to impress the team and show that I’m capable of being a full- time driver,” he said.
Frenchman Gasly, 21, was the 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 Series runner-up and the 2016 GP2 Series champion.
He currently drives a Hondapowered car for Team Mugen in this year’s Super Formula Championship.
He sees this weekend’s drive as a big chance to get into the big league.
“He (Kvyat) was in my position before he came to F1.
“He too had to wait for his chance before taking the seat of someone else.
“He is a really good driver and talented.
“Unfortunately, I’m going to take his seat. I’m sure we will see him back on the grid at some point,” said Gasly, who intends to try and secure a seat for next season.
The other races after next week- end’s Japanese GP are the US Grand Prix ( Oct22), Mexican Grand Prix (Oct 29), Brazilian Grand Prix (Nov 12) and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Nov 26).
The other driver for Toro Rosso is Carlos Sainz, but he is understood to be on the verge of switching to another team next season.
That would open up a vacant slot in the team and Gasly could benefit with a good performance here and in Japan.
“I don’t know what will happen in the next couple of weeks. We will see later. Right now I have to focus on the Malaysia Grand Prix and see how it works out,” said Gasly.
As for Kvyat, this is the second time that he has been replaced by another driver.
He was dropped from the Red Bull team and replaced by Max Verstappen ahead of the last year’s Spanish Grand Prix.