18/12/2013
NEWS STORY
The two new drivers both come to the team as winners, Lynn won the 2013 F3 Macau Grand Prix and was third in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship, Gasly won the 2013 Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup and now joins Sainz in the World Series by Renault 3.5 championship while Lynn will contest GP3.
Essex youngster Lynn has no doubts what joining the Red Bull Junior Team means to him. "I think that it is obviously fantastic to be privileged enough to join the team that has produced so many Formula One drivers and that includes the greatest driver of our generation so far," he says referring to the fact that Sebastian Vettel came through the Junior Team Programme as did the other three drivers in the Infiniti Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso squads including the most recent graduate Daniil Kvyat.
Lynn is ready for a new challenge in GP3. "In terms of car performance it is obviously a faster car but I believe that I can take the experience that I have gathered in the last two years in Formula 3 and in Formula Renault and do a good job as quickly as possible in GP3. I think that with the strength of the Carlin team and my experience we should be able to do a good job straight away."
The GP3 regulations prohibit private testing so no one will get into a car for 2014 until the first of the three preseason tests in Estoril on March 27th and 28th. "There is no chance to get into a car until then but Carlin have a simulator so I will be working hard in that and with the engineers to get acclimatised ahead of time".
"It is the best news that I could have at the end of the season because for next year I have all the best people around me to focus on my performance," says Gasly, who is from Rouen in France. "For next year I think that the goal is clear, I have seen from this year and previous seasons that it is possible to do a good job in the first season so the goal is to win the championship."
Gasly is not underestimating the change from the 2.0 to 3.5 litre Renaults. "So I will have to work hard during this winter but I am very motivated and I think it is possible with Arden. The biggest difference is in the aerodynamics, there is more power of course but this is not too complicated to manage, I think that to get the maximum potential from the car in one lap is quite hard, you have to be on the limit everywhere and there is a lot of potential in the aerodynamics and this is where the performance lies."
Going head to head with Gasly in that Renault 3.5 title chase is Sainz who was a part timer in the series this year while also contesting GP3. "It is great to be joining the Dams team, I tested for them one year ago, before there was any plan for me to compete in Renault 3.5 this year. Immediately we had a great feeling and we have remained in contact since then and finally we have been able to get together for next season. It is a great opportunity, they have shown that they were the best last year and hopefully we can continue the same way."
"I think that it can be a very good thing, just to focus on one series and try to get the most out of it instead of trying to do several championships in different cars. It will be nine races, nine finals for me, I really want to fight for the title, to focus only in this category and try to win it because I know that if I do well it can be very good for my future."