Pierre Gasly: "I'd like to start in the same way in which we finished 2019"

After an up and down 2019 season, Scuderia AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly has said he wants to build on the impressive finish that the team and himself had ahead of the rebranded team's debut in 2020.

The 24-year-old Frenchman was in a reflective mood after a mixed 2019, where he was dropped from the Red Bull senior team, but bounced with Toro Rosso, claiming his first-ever podium at the hectic Brazilian Grand Prix.

"2019 was an interesting year as a lot things happened, both on a professional and personal level," Gasly said speaking to redbull.com. "I feel like I grew and learned a lot, so to get that second year in Brazil, Toro Rosso's second best result over 14 years in F1, really rounded the season off in the best possible way.

"I'm more than excited about this new season, which I'd like to start in the same way in which we finished 2019."

With 2020 being only Gasly's third season in Formula One, he is always evaluating himself and believes he is much more prepared compared to last year.

"I feel better prepared than last year, as I have a bit more experience. Towards the end of the year, together with the people in the team, we really discovered how to understand what we needed from each other and how to get the most out of our package," Gasly said.

The 2016 GP2 champion also expressed how pleased he was with the Honda package and having raced with Honda's Team Mugen in Super Formula, was impressed with the company's latest efforts.

"It proves that all their hard work over the past years has been rewarded. For me, getting that podium with them, as a midfield team, shows that Honda has really helped us to grab these opportunities." 

Gasly and AlphaTauri return to action on Wednesday 26, for the second and final winter test before the rebranded outfit debuts in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday 15 March.