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Why F1 2020's underdog star is relishing a year of continuity

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Dumped by Red Bull during 2019, Pierre Gasly became one of F1's top performers with AlphaTauri in 2020 - and it wasn't just about his Monza win. Now with the full backing of his team, he's relishing settling into a team leadership role in 2021

The glitzy rebranding of Toro Rosso as AlphaTauri ahead of the 2020 Formula 1 season represented the start of a new era for the squad. It should no longer be regarded simply as a B-team to Red Bull Racing, with its foremost task to act as a first step into F1 for the energy-drinks giant's young drivers. Instead, AlphaTauri was now a 'sister' team with a fresh look and higher expectations.

In his first full season back at the Faenza-based squad, Pierre Gasly took everything in his stride and delivered F1's most surprising result of the year. A little over 12 months after his first race back at Toro Rosso following his demotion from Red Bull, he became an F1 race winner in the Italian Grand Prix. And yet to simply highlight Gasly's Monza victory would overlook a number of other outstanding displays throughout the season that made him one of F1's top performers in 2020.

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