Red Bull Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley has spoken out about who Max Verstappen’s new team-mate could be for the forthcoming season, claiming that Pierre Gasly is ready to make the return to their team.
Gasly, 25, joined Red Bull in 2019 after impressing at Scuderia Toro Rosso – Red Bull’s sister outfit.
Yet after just twelve races, Gasly was demoted back to Toro Rosso after a spate of poor performances, with his best finish being a fourth-placed finish at the British Grand Prix.
Having been swapped for Toro Rosso driver Alexander Albon, it seemed harsh on Gasly to do so after just half a season had been played out.
Yet recent comments made by Wheatley have suggested there may be a way back into the Red Bull set-up for the young Frenchman.
“We learned a huge amount of things from Alex [Albon],” Wheatley said on the Jack Threlfall Show.
“We learned how to help support a younger driver who’s having a difficult time.
“[It was the] same with Pierre before that. Look at the confidence Pierre [Gasly] 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.”
Should Gasly make the move, the pair would aim to win the Constructors’ Championship for Red Bull for the first time in nine years after their narrow loss to Mercedes last season.
Mercedes won by a margin of 28 points to take home the accolade for the eighth season running.
Despite Verstappen ending Lewis Hamilton’s dominance in the Drivers’ Championship with his controversial title win, the Austrian side have yet to top their German rivals in the bid for bragging rights.
Sergio Perez has been stellar in his time at Red Bull, and his dismissal would be extremely harsh given he came fourth in the Drivers’ standings following a dip in form in the middle of the season.
But with the Mexican having turned 32 recently, Gasly may be preferred for longevity.
The first race of the season takes place in Bahrain on March 20.
Hamilton will look to win the race for the fourth year in a row having last been denied by Sebastian Vettel in 2018’s edition.
