After his worst season in Formula 1, Pierre Gasly is happy about his move from AlphaTauri to Alpine. The 26-year-old wants to “create something amazing” with the French.
For the AlphaTauri team, 2022 was the most difficult Formula 1 season since 2018. Only 35 points in 22 races, which ultimately means P9 in the constructors’ championship. The year before they were sixth, while in 2020 they were seventh and even won a race.
For Pierre Gasly, 2022 was even the worst season of his career in terms of points, if you exclude 2017, where he only completed five races. It was 23 points for the Frenchman, previously the mark of 29 points was his lowest in 2018.
He is correspondingly disappointed with his farewell season with AlphaTauri: “I won’t lie: I had a much more pleasant year in 2021 than in 2022,” he says. “And just the fact that I didn’t have the competitiveness and the pace to really show much.”
Pierre Gasly: Nobody cares about anything behind P8 in Formula 1
“Of course people look at what’s happening at the top. I think some will say they don’t pay attention after second place, I would say maybe after eighth place then you don’t really see what’s happening at the back “, he explains.
With his move to Alpine for 2023, however, the competitiveness should increase significantly again. After all, the French team finished fourth in the team classification, which puts them first pursuers of the top teams Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes.
“I believe this team is a fresh start for me and a chance to create something amazing together,” Gasly said. “They’ve had their best season since coming back. I think they’re on the right track and they’re getting better season by season.”
“After what they’ve shown all season, I’m definitely confident that what we can achieve together next year will be very, very impressive, so for my part I’m ready for that.”
Pierre Gasly remembers 2019: A team change in Formula 1 harbors dangers
Already after announcing his engagement in Japan, Gasly threw big goals into the room. He would love to be third in the team classification next year and keep fighting for podiums.
But he is also aware that changing teams can be dangerous, as he experienced at Red Bull in 2019.
“You can’t underestimate the work and the task when you change teams and start working with a completely new team, a new environment, a new car and new drivers.”
“Obviously you have to find the right approach to get it done as quickly as possible. But from what I’ve seen I’m very, very confident that the potential for fantastic results is there.”