McLaren, Ferrari F1 fights provided “different kind of excitement”

Gasly accumulated more points through 2021 than in any of its previous three full F1 seasons, finishing ninth overall with 110 points.

While Gasly failed to mimic his shock win at Monza in 2020, the Frenchman took a podium in Azerbaijan and was outside the top 10 in just three races in which he saw the checkered flag.

AlphaTauri only just lost in the fight for fifth place in the constructors’ championship against Alpine, 13 points behind.

Gasly said that while it was “difficult” to see such a small gap between teams at the end of a long season, he was encouraged by AlphaTauri’s performance throughout the campaign.

“What we have achieved as a team, if we look at all of the past few years at AlphaTauri and Toro Rosso, is incredible,” said Gasly.

“So [I’m] really proud of these guys and also hopeful for the next year and what we can achieve. Because this year they have proven that they can perform at a very high level. “

Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri

Photo by: Erik Junius

While Gasly didn’t believe 2021 would surpass his best season in F1 and said that “nothing can beat that feeling of winning”, the chance to fight regularly with midfielders Ferrari and McLaren had kept him motivated.

“As a full season, 22 races, I have to say I enjoyed all 22,” said Gasly.

“Coming on a race weekend and knowing you’re going to be fighting for points, fighting with Ferraris and McLarens is just a different kind of excitement.

“I have to say I’ve loved it all year and I really hope it will [again] next year.”

Also read:

Alpine was able to break away from AlphaTauri in the battle for fifth place at the end of the year, supported by Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocons fifth place on the podium in Qatar. Ocon also scored a shock win for the team in Hungary, helping them to P5.

Gasly joked that it was “a shame that we didn’t pull off the best and worst results of the year”, but praised Alpine for “a good job”.

“I think we did very well and could have finished fifth, but that didn’t happen,” said Gasly.

“I am still very proud of what we have achieved and what I have achieved. You know, 110 points, that doesn’t happen very often at Alpha Tauri. I really enjoyed this season.

“I know that next year could be very different. It could be the same, it could be better, it could be worse. But at the end of the day I’m just happy to have seen the team’s performance that way, because that gives hope for the next year. “