AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly says he wants to be driving for Red Bull in 2024 season, but admits that he does not know what awaits him should he not be promoted by then.
Gasly spent half a season with Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen in 2019, but managed a best finish of fourth while the Dutchman claimed five podiums and two wins.
He was also out-qualified 11 times in 12 races by the 24-year-old, and was bumped back down to the Toro Rosso team for the remainder of the year as Alex Albon stepped up to replace him.
The Thai-Brit also lost his seat following a disappointing 2020 season that was not mitigated by two podium finishes.
Instead of Gasly though, it was Sergio Perez who moved across from Racing Point to partner Verstappen, with Gasly spending another year with the now junior team now known as AlphaTauri.
He impressed last season, scoring points in 15 of the 22 races and managing a podium finish in Azerbaijan, but the Frenchman is to stay put for 2022 after the 32-year-old kept his seat in the main fold having taken victory in Baku.
Frustration appears to have grown in and around the pinnacle of motorsport over the winter around Red Bull’s neglection to place the Frenchman back into their second seat, and if it does not happen by the end of Gasly’s contract next year, he will be assessing his options.
“Helmut [Marko] has already said it, so it’s no longer a secret that I have one year left on my contract after this year,” he said in conversation with the Dutch edition of Motorsport.com.
“Then it’s clear: either we make the move to Red Bull or not. What happens after that, it’s far too early to talk about that. I am now focusing on this year, that it goes as well as possible.
“But it is clear that I want to be in a fast car that I can fight with for victories. That is the only thing that matters to me.
“I want to win races in Formula 1 and I need a car that allows me to do that. We will discuss it with Helmut when the time comes.”
Gasly comprehensively defeated rookie and Honda-backed driver Yuki Tsunoda last year, out-qualifying the Japanese 21 times in another consummate season for the Frenchman since his departure from the Red Bull team.
He has previously stated his intent to consistently break into the top five this year, and believes he has the infrastructure around him to chieve that goal.
“I am very confident. I am very happy with the people I have around me now. I am very happy with my engineers, the way we function as a team and the responsibilities I have within the team,” he explained.
“I must say that I feel good in my skin. I know that I am facing an important year in my career when it comes to taking the next step.
“Last year was fantastic and this year I hope to do at least the same, if not more. I want to take this team as far forward on the grid as possible. That is my personal goal.”
Gasly and Tsunoda will continue to partner one another this season, with the 21-year-old having shown marked improvements in the latter part of 2021.