(Madrid) French driver Pierre Gasly estimated Tuesday that the potential of his Alpine team “has not been well exploited this year” on the sidelines of an event organized in Madrid around Zinédine Zidane, ambassador of the French team.
“Today, we are coming out of a season that was not easy for everyone. […] There are clearly things to improve. There is potential which is present, but which has not been well exploited this year,” summarized Pierre Gasly, who finished 11th in the Formula 1 drivers’ standings, to the French press.
“We need to be able to start this new dynamic, to get back on better foundations next season,” said the French driver.
The latter wants to be inspired by the success as a player and coach of Zinédine Zidane, Alpine ambassador who received the members of the team at his home in Madrid for a day of exchange where he tried karting , and the pilots in football.
“I was asking him questions this morning about training players during his time or at Real between competitions. Because we arrive at a level where everyone is extremely talented and to be stronger than someone who already has a lot of talent, we will have to concentrate on the smallest detail, whether in terms of physical preparation, mental, recovery…” explained Gasly alongside the 98 world champion.
“Zinédine is an example for all young people. […] He has the key to success! » added his teammate Esteban Ocon, who plans to “use” his discussions with “Zizou”, “always relaxed” even when the stakes are high, to “take this step” next year.
The two French pilots are also aware that their sport is “taking on another dimension”:
“I arrived in F1 in 2016. There were already a lot of people following F1, but now all the races are sold out, it no longer has anything to do with it,” assured Esteban Ocon. “There are a lot of people who support us, especially in France and that’s really nice, it gives us a huge boost.”
“We really feel that the mayonnaise has been taking hold for several years,” continued Pierre Gasly. “The last French Grand Prix was truly magical to experience. I hope he’ll be back on the schedule.”
“It’s true that F1 is taking on another dimension and it’s always easier to enjoy it by fighting at the front. So I really hope that we will be able to turn the page on this season and come back stronger next year,” concluded the Rouennais.