GP2 front-runner likely to run for Red Bull at Silverstone test after Toro Rosso confirm Sergio Sette Camara for F1 debut
Monday 27 June 2016 15:41, UK
Red Bull junior Pierre Gasly admits winning this year's GP2 championship is a must for him if he is to land a 2017 F1 seat at Toro Rosso.
The 20-year-old Frenchman is the most experienced driver on Red Bull's young driver programme and theoretically the first in line should they look to promote one of their juniors.
However, with the main Red Bull team committing to Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen for several years, Gasly's chance of an F1 promotion next season hinges on whether both Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat stay at Toro Rosso.
Red Bull are poised to take up their option on Sainz, but Kvyat's future is less certain after he was demoted to the junior outfit earlier in the year.
Gasly is currently fourth in the GP2 standings and is aware he needs to end the year as champion if he is make a case for promotion.
"So far, they don't tell you anything [about 2017], but the target of course is clear," he told Sky Sports F1.
"I'm on my second season in GP2 so for me, the only target is I need to win the championship. If I want to get my chance [at F1], that's pretty obvious. I'm going to try everything to make it happen."
Gasly drove for Toro Rosso at May's post-Spanish GP test, but will not be in action for the Italian team at the second in-season test at Silverstone next month.
Fellow Red Bull junior Sergio Sette Camara will make his F1 debut after Toro Rosso confirmed the 18-year-old Brazilian will share duties across the two-day test with Sainz.
"I'm very happy and excited to be testing with Scuderia Toro Rosso," said Sette Camara, who races in Formula 3. "It's a great opportunity which I've worked very hard for and I'd like to thank everyone who has made this possible, especially Red Bull.
"This will be my first official Formula 1 test and I will make sure I do the best job possible as well as have fun - it's not something that happens every day!
"Silverstone is a great track which I know quite well as I've already driven there before, so this will definitely help me on the day to focus on the car and all the new information without having to learn a new layout at the same time. I just can't wait to drive out of the garage, it will definitely be a moment I will never forget!"
Gasly is therefore likely to receive a call-up from the main Red Bull squad for the July 12-13 test.
All F1 teams are obliged to allocate two of their four in-season test days for running inexperienced drivers. Red Bull ran their race drivers for the two days at Barcelona, meaning young drivers such as Gasly must run at Silverstone.
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