Horner on Gasly: ‘he has been like a different driver all weekend’
F1 News
- Bevan Youl
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner feels Pierre Gasly was a ‘different driver all weekend’ at the British Grand Prix after coming under pressure in recent weeks.
Gasly struggled in France and finished seventh in Austria, being lapped by teammate Max Verstappen as he drove to the team’s first win of the season.
The Frenchman’s performances in comparison to Verstappen have been poor and currently sits on 43 points in the drivers’ championship to the Dutchman’s 126.
But Red Bull have backed their driver, helping by switching his car to the same set-up as Verstappen, and British Grand Prix has looked to be a turning point for Gasly.
Horner said to Autosport: "I think Pierre has done a very good job all weekend.
"Turning the page from Austria, that was a really tough weekend for him, and coming here [he was] just focusing on what he is doing and not worrying what his team-mate was doing.
"Just getting back to basics, he has been like a different driver all weekend.
"From the first sessionvhe has been competitive. He has built on that in FP2, and in all three elements of qualifying, he was competitive and the race again here.
"He passed [Sebastian] Vettel in the race and was racing hard with [Charles] Leclerc and I thought he drove very well."
Gasly felt that the British Grand Prix was a big positive for him but was also a shame to miss out on a podium finish for the first time.
"I think it was by far the best weekend of the year, we can be pleased," Gasly said.
"There were quite a lot of things going on after Austria, a lot of meetings with the team checking how we can improve the whole thing.
"We made a few changes and [I'm] just pleased that from the first session we could see a big step forward.
"I am so pleased with the fourth place but, of course, as a competitive guy, I am a bit disappointed to miss out on the podium by a couple of seconds."