Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly like Michael Schumacher or Mika Hakkinen with me, says Martin Brundle

Pierre Gasly

Verstappen and Gasly like Schumacher or Hakkinen with me, says Brundle

He doesn't mean Pierre is destined for the commentator's booth.

Matthew Scott

Wednesday 26 June 2019 19:29 Updated: 10:42

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Formula 1 racer turned pundit Martin Brundle says Pierre Gasly's predicament with team-mate Max Verstappen vastly outperforming him at Red Bull reminds him of struggles in his own career when teaming with world champion pair Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen.

Brundle raced alongside Schumacher at Benetton in 1992, before also teaming with the German's future fierce rival Hakkinen at McLaren, where the Finn would later become a double world champion.

Gasly is yet to finish a race ahead of Verstappen and qualified ahead of him only in Canada, where the Dutchman was left marooned in Q2 when a red flag cut short his flying lap.

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Reports have already emerged that Red Bull could dispense of Gasly's services before the end of the year. The team certainly has form.

With Red Bull's own performance issues being compounded by Gasly's poor form, Brundle says it is imperative that Gasly finds a way to dig up the speed he possesses.

Brundle wrote for Sky Sports: "They are tantalisingly close to the pace but not close enough to add to our entertainment much.

"At some point, Verstappen is going to lose patience, but probably not before Red Bull lose theirs with an underperforming Pierre Gasly in the other car.

"I've been in Pierre's position up against Schumacher and Hakkinen as team-mates.

"It's confidence-sapping and nothing seems to fall your way either, creating a spiral of lost confidence. I used to hit rock bottom and rebound nicely 'with nothing to lose' and so must he."