Coming into the Chinese Grand Prix, it really hadn't been a great start to his new tenure at Red Bull for Pierre Gasly.
A strategy mix-up in Melbourne meant that he failed to get into Q2 and lined up for the start of the race in 17th place. Bahrain proved slightly better for the Frenchman, but 12th on the grid was still a long way behind his team mate Max Verstappen.
But Gasly appeared to be finally getting to grips with the RB15 in Shanghai. After making it through to Q3 for the first time in 2019, he will start tomorrow's race alongside Verstappen on the third row.
“I think really, that was the best I could expect,” Gasly told Sky Sports F1 after the end of the qualifying session. "It was still a tricky weekend, so I think we are happy with the position."
Gasly got through to Q3 with a time set on the soft compound, while those ahead will all begin the race on medium tyres. That could give him some interesting strategy options on Sunday.
“I'm the first one to start on softs, different than the first five cars," he noted. "Push flat out and hopefully I can make this tyre last and with the things happening on track hopefully, I get out from China with maximum points!
"As we saw last year, anything can happen on this track so we'll keep pushing. I think I felt better in the long runs than the short runs," he added. "We'll see how it goes."
Even though he was happier with his improved qualifying performance, Gasly said that he still felt he should be able to do better now that he's been promoted to the senior squad after a year at Toro Rosso.
"Not satisfied with my driving still," he admitted. "Still struggling with that car. So yeah, for sure. Some work to do.”
Asked to identify what his mean issues were with the car, Gasly replied: "I think basically all the traction."
©RedBull
"I struggle to put the power down and I fight a lot with the car," he elaborated. "So I know the things I need to work on.
"I'll probably try to change a bit, my driving style," he said. "Probably with the team, working together, we can find the directions to make it a bit more suitable to myself.
"Basically we can see I'm fighting more. Also, I'm quite I'm aggressive with the way I go on power. It doesn't help with that car.
"It was okay last year [at Toro Rosso], and I think I need to change a bit the way I drive to get the maximum from this car.”
Gasly admitted that he was learning everything he could from studying his team mate.
"For sure," he chuckled. "When you're in F1 that's the first thing you look at, your team mate, and how he does things. Especially with him - the fact that he's worked with the team, is really fast.
"I've a lot of things to learn from him," Gasly acknowledged. "Still not satisfied with what I do, but I think working with the team progressively we'll get there sooner rather than later."
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