Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has confirmed Pierre Gasly will not race in next weekend’s United States Grand Prix with the Frenchman going to compete in the Super Formula finale at Suzuka.
The 21-year-old has competed in the last two Formula 1 races, making his debut for Toro Rosso in Malaysia before continuing last weekend at the Japanese circuit. His participation at the Circuit of the Americas had always been a key question, however, as he sits just half a point behind the championship leader in the Japan open-wheel series with one race to go.
The sudden announcement of Jolyon Palmer’s departure from Renault with Carlos Sainz heading to the Enstone team early seemed to indicate he would stay with the junior Red Bull team with Daniil Kvyat coming back to replace the Spaniard but it now seems a completely different line-up will race in Austin compared to the one at Suzuka.
“Renault decided very late and a little unexpectedly in changing Palmer,” Marko told Auto Motor und Sport, explaining why Sainz’s move will happen now.
“Gasly cannot drive in Austin because our new engine partner Honda wants him to get the Super Formula title at the same time in Japan,” he added. “We cannot deny their wish.”
Should his claim be true, it opens up the question of who will step in for the next race with no other young Red Bull drivers able to step up. Former Toro Rosso, now WEC and Formula E driver Sebastien Buemi is believed to be the most likely option but other names like Renault reserve Sergey Sirotkin have also been mentioned.
The most interesting name, however, was Robert Kubica with the Pole targeting a return with Williams in 2018. Though that remains an option the German publication is also reporting a one-off appearance is unlikely due to issues it would cause a problem with an insurance policy Kubica received after his 2011 crash and there are other considerations too.
“If you are thrown into deep water in a strange car without a test, you can only lose,” current world champion and member of the former BMW driver’s management team Nico Rosberg claimed. “It is better to keep going for the Williams opportunity.”
