Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

BTCC Snetterton: Rainford dominates to lead home Ingram

BTCC
Snetterton (300 Circuit)
BTCC Snetterton: Rainford dominates to lead home Ingram

Why we need to talk about social media in F1

Feature
Formula 1
Why we need to talk about social media in F1

Super Formula Suzuka: Fukuzumi sees off Iwasa for Rookie Racing's first win

Super Formula
Suzuka
Super Formula Suzuka: Fukuzumi sees off Iwasa for Rookie Racing's first win

Hamilton’s sim-less approach seems to pay off as he outqualifies Leclerc twice at Canadian GP

Formula 1
Canadian GP
Hamilton’s sim-less approach seems to pay off as he outqualifies Leclerc twice at Canadian GP

The fine lines that denied "faster" Antonelli in Canadian GP qualifying

Feature
Formula 1
Canadian GP
The fine lines that denied "faster" Antonelli in Canadian GP qualifying

Supercars Symmons Plains: Feeney halts winless run with dominant display

Supercars
Tasmania Super 440
Supercars Symmons Plains: Feeney halts winless run with dominant display

Antonelli and Russell clear the air after F1 Canadian GP sprint race clash

Formula 1
Canadian GP
Antonelli and Russell clear the air after F1 Canadian GP sprint race clash

Red Bull went against Verstappen's set-up feedback: “Sometimes they have to feel it”

Formula 1
Canadian GP
Red Bull went against Verstappen's set-up feedback: “Sometimes they have to feel it”

Pierre Gasly suffered back pain on F1 race debut in Malaysia

Toro Rosso's Pierre Gasly suffered back pain throughout his Formula 1 race debut in the Malaysian Grand Prix because of an uncomfortable seating position

Gasly replaced Daniil Kvyat in Red Bull's junior team for this weekend and finished 14th at Sepang.

The Frenchman, who joined the Red Bull programme in 2014 and is the reigning GP2 champion, said his seat was moving around a lot during the race.

He will stay in the car for next weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, alongside team-mate Carlos Sainz, and will have a new seat in readiness for the start of the weekend.

"With the seat, I'm not supported enough. It's not ideal but it's more like I didn't feel fully comfortable," he said when asked by Autosport about the pain.

"It was moving a lot from lap one, especially high speed all race as well.

"I'm not inside the seat, I'm moving a lot and it's not ideal for my back.

"It feels like it's quite painful so we have planned already to do a new one for next weekend.

"With the seat we will definitely do a new one in Suzuka."

Gasly said his debut was "better than expected" but has outlined a number of areas he wants to work on to improve.

"That was a positive race, it was important to take experience and to finish," he said.

"Looking back at it there are many things I would do differently. Some situations with the blue flags and tyre management.

"I think we pitted slightly early. Of course as a racing driver you want to push so I went out of the [pit] box and tried to push to undercut the others but I paid for it a bit in the end.

"A few things that will come with experience but I've tried to push as hard as possible without doing mistakes and it was a positive weekend overall."

How did Gasly compare to Sainz? Discuss on the Autosport Forum

When asked if he had spoken to Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko after the race, Gasly said: "I saw him in the paddock, he was smiling so I guess it means positive feedback."

Team principal Franz Tost praised the rookie's performance and is excited by the prospect of seeing him drive at Suzuka, given he has experience of the circuit.

"Pierre did a fantastic job again today - this was his first weekend with the team and he performed very well," said Tost.

"I'm looking forward to seeing him race again in Suzuka because it's a race track he knows from the Japanese Super Formula championship."

Previous article Malaysian GP: Ocon says Sainz 'drove straight into me' in clash
Next article Malaysian GP: Williams's place swap allowed Stoffel Vandoorne past

Top Comments

Latest news