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Horner: Gasly pace encouraging despite DNF

Horner: Gasly pace encouraging despite DNF

02-05-2019 09:05
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Bobby Vincent

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner was pleased with Pierre Gasly's speed at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, despite the Frenchman having to retire early with a technical fault.

It's been a far from ideal start to life at Red Bull for Gasly - with his best position coming in China, where he finished in sixth. But Horner believes Gasly is still very much the right driver for the team, after replacing Daniel Ricciardo, with the Aussie leaving for Renault.

"His pace was very encouraging [in Baku]. He has a lot of positive to remember, we saw in free practice that he was much more comfortable with the car," Horner said.

"The confidence stored in China has been translated in Baku as well. He knows he has delivered a much stronger weekend. 

"He is coming out of this delicate period, he is receiving a lot of support. He has an excellent team in charge of engineering around him. He knows we believe in him, we know he has the talent to succeed. 

"It just takes a little while, and of course he's facing a huge barometer next door [Verstappen], which is one of the best on the board."

Gasly has been outperformed by Max Verstappen on each race so far this season, with the Dutchman recording fourth-place in his past three races.