Gasly jumped into the pool after Red Bull call-up!

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Pierre Gasly has been talking of his reaction to the call he received from Dr Helmut Marko confirming that he would be driving for Red Bull next year.

Gasly had previously been informed that Daniel Ricciardo was leaving the team at the end of the season, with Marko telling him that "they would be making their decision on the 2019 driver at a later date.

"He told me to just enjoy the summer break and that they weren’t in a rush," Gasly told the Red Bull website.

"So I just continued to enjoy my holidays," he continued. "I came back to the South of France with my friends last week and he [Marko] called me back.

"He said, 'Just to let you know, we’ve made our decision - and we’d like you to race alongside Max in 2019'.

"When Helmut started the call with me I was in my underwear," Gasly revealed. "When the call ended I ran around the house shouting to my mates and they all jumped in the pool straight away!

Gasly to join Verstappen at Red Bull Racing for 2019!

"I was just so shocked. I didn’t really know what I was saying to my mates, so I jumped in the pool and celebrated.

"Celebrating with them, they were just super happy for me as well, so it was a great moment," he added. "They’ve supported me every weekend from my karting days and as I was moving up through the series.

"To get the news during that week when I was with them was even better," he continued. "We only really get to spend one week a year together. We try to see each other every year, but of course with the Formula 1 calendar it’s difficult to see them.

"There was so much excitement and I was so happy about it because it’s something I’ve wanted for a long time."

The news is still sinking in, but that doesn't mean that the 22-year-old French driver isn't already starting to plan what he will do in 2019.

"I'm really excited, in a way it means a lot more than a dream to me. It’s a bit more pressure, but I like challenges.

I’m a really competitive guy and when I do something it’s always to fight for the best and top positions," he said. "That’s one of the main points - to be in a position where I’ll be able to fight for the top step."

And before that, he wants to make sure he leaves Toro Rosso on a high.

"I have got this opportunity thanks to Toro Rosso because they’ve really helped me and given me all my chances since I joined them last year. I just want to give everything I can for them.

"Hopefully end the season with a triumph and give the team something to celebrate all together and end on a good feeling."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.