Imola (Italy) (AFP)

"I am not disappointed, just surprised", reacted Friday the French F1 driver Pierre Gasly, renewed at AlphaTauri in 2021 without having been considered for a second chance at Red Bull despite his victory this season in Italy.

"In 14 years, Seb (Vettel) won a race with Toro Rosso (the former name of AlphaTauri, in 2008, note) and I'm the only other driver to have won with them. Seb was promoted to Red Bull and won four world titles with the team. So I'm just surprised not to have been considered, "explained Gasly two days before the Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna in Imola.

"But I am not disappointed, he insisted at a press conference. I think our performance (at AlphaTauri) is excellent. I am able to show my potential, my speed, my talents. I am 24 For years, my ultimate goal is to fight at the forefront and for a title, but for now, I have to give my best in the team I'm on. "

The Frenchman's renewal for the coming season was made official on Wednesday, while Red Bull has yet to decide whether to trust Thailand's Alexander Albon again next year.

Arrived in F1 at the end of 2017 at Toro Rosso, Gasly was promoted to Red Bull at the beginning of 2019 then demoted in mid-season in favor of Albon, still in his first year in the premier category of motorsport, for lack of results.

Mathematically however, the two men have very similar performances, even to the advantage of Gasly, whose car is less powerful.

In 2019, the latter scored 95 points in the world championship and Albon 92. After 12 out of 17 rounds in 2020, the French have 63 units on their counter and the Thai 64. The former can claim two podiums (2nd in Brazil in 2019 , 1st in Italy in 2020) and the second only one (3rd in Tuscany in 2020), even if it has come close several times.

- "It's their decision" -

Asked about the explanations provided by Red Bull, Gasly said he did not get any.

"They have their strategy. It's their decision. If you want a better answer, ask them directly. But it was very quickly clear that I would continue with the same team."

Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull, assures for his part that it was explained to the Frenchman that "his future is with AlphaTauri because of the aspirations of the team", which tries to emancipate itself from its status of small sister of Red Bull.

"He's happy with them, the team is happy with him, we weren't going to destroy that," said the Briton.

Gasly's Russian teammate Daniil Kvyat, for his part, said he had "no news" to share about his own future.

He is on waivers against Albon but also against Japanese Formula 2 driver Yuki Tsunoda, who is due to make his debut aboard an F1 with AlphaTauri on Wednesday at Imola, before taking part in the post-season testing in Abu Dhabi mid- December.

© 2020 AFP