Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) (AFP)

"I digested" to have lost a seat at Red Bull to return to the sister team Toro Rosso, much less successful, said the French Pierre Gasly on the sidelines of the Belgian Grand Prix.

"Obviously, I was disappointed with this decision" taken by Red Bull during the summer break of F1, he said. After 12 Grand Prix passes in one of the best teams of the championship, the young Normand was asked to return to his classes at Toro Rosso, team for which he has already driven in 2017 and 2018.

At the age of 23, he leaves his driving behind the Thai Alexander Albon who, at the same age, has only 12 F1 races at Toro Rosso.

But, Gasly is above all a professional and quickly the "message" takes over: "I'm rested, very well prepared and the only thing I want to do is give everything to Toro Rosso," he says.

- Bitter taste -

The affair, however, leaves a bitter aftertaste in the small world of F1. His former teammate at Red Bull, the Dutchman Max Verstappen, felt it was a bit "nil" ("shitty") to have to answer a question asking if he was harming his talent for the careers of those who are in the same team as him. "I think everyone is doing the best he can not?" He replied, obviously embarrassed.

Gasly has never been able to match his team-mate, who is younger than him at 21, but has been in F1 since 2014. He did not manage to win a podium while Verstappen won races.

"There are some things I could have done better during this first part of the season," he admits and "I have my share of responsibility". He was promoted to Red Bull to replace the Australian Daniel Ricciardo who had signed at Renault to the surprise.

"There was some frustration after the GP of Hungary, when we looked at the total points, we had a car capable of beating Ferrari in the constructors' championship but we could not capitalize on it," said Christian Horner, boss of the Red Bull stable.

- "Happy for Alex, sad for Pierre" -

Helmut Marko, the manager of the Red Bull pilot sector, who tested the F1 car himself and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1971, does not look like a tender one. He had already "pulled" the Russian Daniil Kvyat from Red Bull to get him down at Toro Rosso before moving away to make way for ... Pierre Gasly.

He has given Albon until the end of the season to show what he is capable of and he will have enormous pressure, especially against Verstappen.

But the Thais remain philosopher: "Of course, Max is at the top of his art right now and it should not be easy for Pierre.I was not really involved so I do not know where he met difficulties but for me it s will act as usual to do my best and dominate the car, "he told Spa.

Most F1 drivers know each other well enough to have raced in the same promotion at a very young age. Some galera before finding a stable steering wheel - Esteban Ocon who just signed at Renault for 2020 after a year away from the circuits - others find themselves catapulted quickly in a high-tech team, such as Pierre Gasly at Red Bull or Charles Leclerc at Ferrari.

The young Monegasque (21) confessed "surprised" Gasly's misadventure and "sad for him". "But I know Alex (Albon) very well so I'm happy for Alex and sad for Pierre".

Pierre Gasly can turn to his teammate Kvyat to try to reassure himself. After being "driven out" of Toro Rosso, he returned this season. "You have to run race by race, do not think too much about the future," said the Russian, who, at the age of 25, is almost like an old driver.

© 2019 AFP