Red Bull: Gasly now ready to make 'the next step up'

Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley says the Milton Keynes-based outfit has learned a lot from the struggles of its junior drivers, and insists Pierre Gasly is now ready to make the next step up in his F1 career.

In 2018, Gasly's results fell short of Red Bull's expectations and the Frenchman was demoted back to the energy drink company's sister outfit midway through the season.

But the Frenchman's successor at Red Bull Racing, Alex Albon, hardly fared any better and was sent to sidelines at the end of 2020 and replaced by the experienced Sergio Perez alongside the team's star driver, reigning world champion Max Verstappen.

Wheatley says some valuable lessons were garnered from Gasly and Albon's struggles, and Red Bull has learned how to better support the efforts of its younger talent, with Gasly enjoying a productive 2021 campaign with AlphaTauri while Albon will return to the grid this year with Williams.

• Read also: Albon one of the 'most unprepared drivers' to get into F1

"We learned a huge amount of things from Alex; we learned how to help support a younger driver who's having a difficult time," Wheatley told podcaster Jack Threlfall.

"Same with Pierre before that. Look at the confidence Pierre has got again, now he's back in a slightly smaller team!

"I think, honestly, Pierre is ready to make the next step up now."

Wheatly admits that - to Albon's credit - racing alongside the blindingly fast Verstappen was a daunting challenge at the time for the British-Thai rookie.

"Alex is an extraordinary young man," Wheatley explained. "Fantastic driver, a seriously, seriously fast driver.

"But, a bit like Pierre, [it's] very difficult to come into a team with Max Verstappen as your teammate.

"It's been a bit of a gulf really coming from AlphaTauri or Toro Rosso in the past into a race team with somebody the likes of Max in it.

"Max had to do with Daniel [Ricciardo], but we can see now that Max is another extraordinary talent.

"But Alex and his dedication and the fact that he never once let his emotions overcome him... I think it just shows a resilience in the guy."

Wheatley also acknowledged how Perez's vast experience has benefitted Red Bull as a championship winning contender.

"You want to win the Constructors' Championship, not just the Drivers' World Championship," said the Briton.

"You need both drivers there. I think that what Checo brings with him and brings to the team is this body of experience. It does make us stronger."

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