Gasly challenge laid down by Red Bull

Red Bull chef Dr Helmut Marko says Pierre Gasly must show greater "discipline" if he is to keep his spot alongside Max Verstappen in the long-term. Gasly impressed for Toro Rosso in his first full Formula 1 season in 2018 and is the latest product off the Red Bull production line.

Gasly picked up five points-scoring finishes in 2018 – including a fourth-place finish in Bahrain that represents Honda's best result since returning to F1 in 2015.

After outscoring Brendon Hartley by 25 points, Gasly was selected to replace the Renault-bound Daniel Ricciardo, but Marko says the Frenchman must prove himself all over again to remain in the senior side.

He told Motorsport: "That's what F1 is like. In football if you're not performing, you're sitting on the bench.

"Gasly has shown speed, but of course we have to [instil] discipline a little bit.

"But also, the support from the team is a different one. We're confident that he can do it."

Gasy said his successes in 2018 were down to maximising Toro Rosso's potential – something the senior Red Bull side have proven adept at against the all-conquering Mercedes in recent years.

"In my first complete season my main target was to make the best out of the package I had," Gasly told Motorsport.

"I knew there would be two, three, four opportunities in the season to score big points.

"All the opportunities that came to us in Bahrain [fourth], Monaco [seventh], Budapest [sixth], I would say they were the main three ones where we managed to do the right thing.

"In Bahrain I had to deliver a good qualifying at the right time to have the free air in the race and that's what I managed to do.

"In Monaco, to make it into the Q3, to get a better starting grid position, that's what we did.

"In the wet in Budapest in quali as well, I managed to make it to Q3 and have a good starting position.

"They were the races where we had a bit more performance compared to others and we managed to make it happen when it mattered."

MORE: Gasly expects Honda to close Mercedes, Ferrari gap
MORE: Gasly: I'll give Verstappen the hardest time I can