Red Bull boss Christian Horner has again appeared to rule out swapping Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly in 2021.
The positioning of the two drivers has been subject to speculation for much of the year with the Thai driver struggling to match Max Verstappen, while Gasly impresses at AlphaTauri.
That has only increased after the Frenchman claimed his maiden Grand Prix win at Monza last weekend, with even Lewis Hamilton suggesting Pierre should be re-promoted.
“The driver question will come up with Red Bull at the end of October, beginning of November,” AlphaTauri boss Franz Tost told Sky Sports on Friday.
“We will see how everything is continuing, and then Red Bull makes the decision which driver is racing in which team.
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“He [Gasly] belongs to the best Red Bull young drivers,” he added. “He is able to win races, or at least one race up until now.
“He has shown as well in the past that he is able to win races and championships, and that’s important.
“I rate him very high because what he showed in Monza he is really a fantastic racer. He controlled the pace and how he made clear to Carlos there was no way of a chance to pass him.
“He drove, I must say, a very, very mature race, and therefore I rate him very high.”
And it was that relationship which Gasly has with the Faenza-based outfit which the Red Bull boss put at the forefront of his case for keeping him there next season.
“Pierre has done a fantastic job,” Horner was quoted by Crash.net.
“Since taking the step back into what was Toro Rosso, he’s found his confidence, he’s driving incredibly well. AlphaTauri is doing a great job with him. It’s good to see that’s working out for him.
“I think as far as Red Bull Racing’s seats are confirmed, we’re focused on Alex Albon,” he insisted. “We want to try and give him the best opportunity to retain that seat.
“It wouldn’t make sense to switch the drivers back. AlphaTauri is now a sister team rather than a junior team. Franz [Tost] is happy I believe with Pierre.”