Pierre Gasly: My 2019 Formula 1 season like a Hollywood movie

Gasly graduated into a Red Bull seat for 2019 after a promising debut campaign with Toro Rosso the year before, but he struggled to match Max Verstappen and he was placed back at Toro Rosso ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.

Gasly's season also included a maiden F1 podium finish in the Brazilian Grand Prix, and he largely outperformed Toro Rosso team-mate Daniil Kvyat in the second half of 2019.

But Gasly also had to contend with the death of close friend Anthoine Hubert during the Belgian GP, while Alex Albon - who took Gasly's place at Red Bull - sealed the final seat at Red Bull for 2020.

Reflecting on his 2019, Gasly told Autosport: "It's been almost like a Hollywood movie.

"I would not even imagine it's real, like all the stuff that happened, how it started, when it started, and the things that happened during the first six months.

"Then after the swap, the way I got back into the [Toro Rosso] team, it just did not feel real.

"Like so many moments over the year, it has been: 'This can't be happening. It can't be real.'"

Gasly said that Hubert's passing at Spa was his lowest moment, while his second place at Interlagos was the highlight.

"It was such a roller-coaster year," he explained. "I went through every kind of emotion.

• Remembering Hubert
• His life recalled
• Gasly's tribute

"One of the saddest moments in my life was in Spa when Anthoine passed away, and already I was in a difficult weekend going back to Toro Rosso.

"And then there was Brazil, which was probably the best moment in my life and also in my career.

"I had so many up and down feelings through the year, and yeah, it was great after all these different emotions, all these different times, that I really kept myself working and pushing.

"I knew that 'OK, keep pushing, and at some point, things are going to fall in the right order.'"

Gasly played down the idea of his Brazilian GP podium silencing his doubters.

• Gasly's first podium
• Lessons to be learned
• Praise from rivals

"It's good to see when the work pays off, so it was nice," he said. "After I came back here [to Toro Rosso], one more podium or one less, it doesn't change the person I am.

"I am still the same. I'm still working the same and approaching things the same way.

"But it's just nice to show that, even after all these difficult times, I always keep working until I reach the performance I want."