Pierre Gasly still expects he can improve to match the pace of his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen.
Last time out in Shanghai marked the first time the Frenchman had made the top six since joining from Toro Rosso, but that was mostly due to an increased gap between the top three teams and the midfield.
A large gap between Gasly and Verstappen in the race means questions remain over whether he can reach the Dutchman’s level at Red Bull, but the man himself has no doubts.
“That is the goal, yes,” he told Spanish newspaper AS.
“I know I’m fast and I know my strengths. When I drive as I want and I’m more comfortable, I think I can be as fast as him.”
Asked why he is quite a bit slower, Gasly replied: “Because he is one of the greatest talents of this grid, he has shown it.
“He has five years of experience here as well. Although in the ‘top’ teams there are no easy partners. Lewis [Hamilton], [Valtteri] Bottas, Charles [Leclerc], Seb [Vettel], all are very good.”
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Red Bull has also indicated the 23-year-old’s struggle in adapting to the RB15 is another reason why he is currently unable to show his full potential.
“Most of the time it’s mainly corner exits, just putting the power down. I’m sliding too much, basically,” Gasly explained to RaceFans.net.
“I think it’s being a bit too aggressive with the car, asking a bit too much to the rear axle so stressing the rear.
“There are still areas where we can make it a bit more suitable to me as well, but also on my side to basically adapt my driving to the car to extract more performance.”