Pierre Gasly discusses some of the hurdles AlphaTauri faced last season, explaining the importance of finding a balance when evaluating themselves.
The Italian team failed to produce a car capable of scoring consistent points in midfield, often failing to contend for top 10 positions.
Gasly’s performance is not bad, his qualifying and race results are better than his teammates, and he has more points throughout the year.
That’s not to say Kakuta hasn’t narrowed the gap on the Frenchman significantly, but Gasly can still be pleased with his overall performance.
After continuing to struggle at the front of the midfield – and even on the podium – in 2021, Gasly’s results will inevitably drop with the AT03 machine.
As quoted by racingnews365, the 26-year-old discusses why he avoids dwelling on the past:
“If you look back at 22 games, you’ll find points.
scroll to continue
“But I’ve learned that for our own mental health in F1, it’s better not to look back at all the missing points. Otherwise, you get frustrated very quickly.
“I think for us we could have done better in some situations.
“Obviously it’s been an extremely difficult year for us.
“Sometimes it’s mistakes on our side, sometimes it’s just bad luck, but it’s been a very challenging year.”
Gasly makes important points, getting a clear idea of what’s on your mind and the best way to balance performance with overall well-being.
All drivers analyze and dissect their race weekends throughout the year, so the pressure to spend time away from the paddock seems reasonable.
Daniel Ricciardo discusses the importance of disconnecting and recharging in 2023, which seems to be a clear indication of the pressure and demands of Formula 1.
Several drivers, including Lando Norris, have spoken more openly about their mental health issues – certainly a positive development for the sport.
Regardless, looking ahead, Gasly will no doubt be excited about the next chapter of his career at Alpine.
