Red Bull has announced that Pierre Gasly will join the team from the beginning of the 2019 season, to race alongside Max Verstappen.

Gasly, who had his first competitive taste of Formula One last year, joining sister team Toro Rosso from the Malaysian Grand Prix, has had an impressive first full season in the sport this year, notably driving superbly to finish fourth at the Bahrain Grand Prix and notching two further top ten finishes in the first half of the season.

His career in motorsport has gone from strength to strength. Following a start in karting he competed in the French F4 Championship in 2011 before graduating to Formula Renault 2.0, winning that title in 2013. Now as part of the Red Bull Junior Programme he moved to the 3.5 Renault series racing for Arden Motorsport before stepping up to GP2 in 2015 and becoming Red Bull Racing's reserve driver. He won the 2016 GP2 Drivers' Championship at the end of a thrilling season racing for the Prema Powerteam. In 2017 he competed in Japan's Super Formula Championship, finishing runner-up while having already begun his F1 career, racing at Scuderia Toro Rosso.

"Since Pierre first stepped into a Formula One seat with Scuderia Toro Rosso less than a year ago he has proved the undoubted talent that Red Bull has nurtured since his early career," said Christian Horner. "His stellar performances this year at the Honda-powered team, in only his first full season in Formula One, have only enhanced his reputation as one of the most exciting young drivers in motorsport and we look forward to Pierre bringing his speed, skill and attitude to the team in 2019. While our immediate focus remains fully on achieving our best result in the 2018 World Championship, we look forward to competing in 2019 with Max and Pierre at the wheel of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing."

"To be awarded a drive at Aston Martin Red Bull Racing from 2019 is a dream come true for me," added Gasly, "I'm so excited to be joining this top team. It has been my goal to race for this team since I joined the Red Bull Junior Driver Programme in 2013, and this incredible opportunity is another step forward in my ambition to win Grands Prix and compete for World Championships. Red Bull has always looked to fight for championships or victories and that's what I want. I'm a really competitive guy and when I do something it's always to fight for the best and top positions.

"As hugely exciting a moment as this is, I am fully aware of the challenge this special opportunity offers me and the expectations that faces any driver at Aston Martin Red Bull Racing," he continued. "I'm looking forward to rewarding the faith that Dietrich Mateschitz, Christian Horner and Dr Helmut Marko have placed in me. The first phase of that is to keep pushing for ultimate performance and the best results in 2018 that I can achieve for my team, Scuderia Toro Rosso. I wish to thank Franz Tost and everyone at Toro Rosso and the factory in Faenza for giving me the golden opportunity of a drive in Formula One and their amazing commitment and support, which I know will continue for the rest of this season. My focus now is to do everything I can to give them a season to celebrate."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by ESTMPRFT, 20/08/2018 21:25

"Doh - I meant did this lead to Carlos going to McLaren? Which came first in actuality?..."

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2. Posted by ESTMPRFT, 20/08/2018 21:22

"No mention of Senor Sainz. Did Max get his purported way or were there other factors?"

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3. Posted by CH94th1, 20/08/2018 20:44

"2019 is going to be an interesting season at RBR. The Honda engine in a Newey designed car may show McLaren and it's 'marketing guru' head that it is the total package and not just the engine that makes a winning combination. My biggest concern is Pierre coming to terms with being #2 to Max. If 'Mr. Nice Guy' Ricciardo had problems in that department, then I suspect it may not be plain sailing for Pierre.
"

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Official: Gasly to partner Verstappen at Red Bull in 2019

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