Retained by AlphaTauri for 2022, Pierre Gasly remains as perplexed as the rest of us as to why he has not been called back to Red Bull.

While Nico Rosberg's grid walk for Sky Sports on Sunday was somewhat cringe-worthy, nobody seemingly wanting to interact with 'Nico No Mates' other than to give him a half-hearted thumbs-up, his post-race questioning of a number of drivers more than made up for it.

In particular he put Pierre Gasly on the spot.

Having qualified a brilliant fourth, the Frenchman drove a faultless race bringing the car home in the same position.

Meanwhile, though ranked 'driver of the day' by some, Sergio Perez had finished 8th after qualifying 16th.

Having had an engine change ahead of the race the Mexican started from the pitlane, and as a result - not for the first time - left his teammate fully exposed to the strategic whims of the mighty Mercedes.

Straight to the point, Rosberg asked Gasly why he had been shunned by Red Bull again.

"I wonder why," said the Frenchman, who was dropped by the Austrian team mid-season in 2019, his first year with the Austrian outfit.

"Yeah, there were discussions," he admitted, "I think they are really happy with my performance but, they made their decision.

"Obviously, it was a small disappointment for me as that's where I want to be, I want to have a fast car," he continued. "AlphaTauri, you know, give me a really strong car but it was up to Red Bull and unfortunately it didn't happen.

"It doesn't mean it won't happen in the future," he added, somewhat optimistically, "but for sure for next year I'm not going to drive there."

Having contributed 66 of AlphaTauri's 84 points, as he heads back to Monza, the scene of last year's famous victory, Gasly is proving to be one of the stars of the season, and reinforces the widely held view that he deserves a better seat.

Indeed, one cannot help but feel that the French youngster has committed a sin of monumental proportions to have so clearly fallen out of favour with Mr Marko or Mr Horner.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Bill Hopgood, 07/09/2021 20:23

"Red Bull are a strange team when it comes to drivers.
On the one hand, they bring through and develop really good talent, yet on the other, they can see the same drivers really struggle.
Sometimes they swap them out for not much better (Hartley out, Kiviat back in).
Hartley's case was quite interesting as he was a reserve driver in the Vettel / Webber days, dropped, bought back in before a season end into the Honda development year at Toro Rossa, did from what Honda allude to as an excellent job, then basically dropped by March the following year, despite having a two year contract.
He didn't even get a "thanks and goodbye" from Red Bull.
Then, we have Sainz who I think Red Bull must look at as their big missed opportunity such as Ricciardo.
Perhaps that is the price to pay for having a clear number 1 in Max?
Albon seems to be on the outer with Gasley, but around in case Perez isn't performing or gets dropped, so the team does have depth. Still too soon for Tsunoda to be dropped.
Then there is their F2 drivers such as Lawson who is going OK there and really well in DTM.
I think that by and large, Red Bull are good for F1 in that they have four cars plus a development program that gives these drivers a shot.
In regard to Gasley and the top Red Bull team, perhaps Red Bull just aren't convinced of his headspace when under pressure?
Either way, when the music stops, we'll see who and who doesn't have a seat over the next few seasons.

"

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2. Posted by Rock Doc, 07/09/2021 17:12

"@EE Very true. I guess I was meaning if AlphaTauri are beating the other teams why go there.

He wont get in a Merc and he wasn't able to beat Max in the same car.

But I get your point."

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3. Posted by Editor, 07/09/2021 15:20

"@ Rock Doc:

eE: But then if AlphaTauri can give him a car that will do 4th each race why move.

3rd... 2nd... 1st!"

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4. Posted by Rock Doc, 07/09/2021 14:30

"He is better off not being in Red Bull against Max. Doing an amazing job at AlphaTauri and is impressing the whole paddock. He needs to get out of the Red Bull bullpit. Sainz was in the same situation a few years back but managed to get out. I hope Gasly can do the same and get a seat for another team.

But then if AlphaTauri can give him a car that will do 4th each race why move."

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Gasly wonders why there is no Red Bull return

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