Pierre Gasly targets improved AlphaTauri consistency

AlphaTauri

Gasly targets improved AlphaTauri consistency

AlphaTauri finished seventh in last year's standings

Ewan Gale

Monday 18 January 2021 09:29

AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly has said the team must score points on a more consistent basis if it is to climb the constructors' standings this year.

AlphaTauri finished seventh in the constructors' championship last year, ending the year just one position and 24 points behind Ferrari.

At the Italian Grand Prix, Gasly registered his first Formula 1 victory and the team's second - its last success coming in the 2008 Italian Grand Prix with Sebastian Vettel.

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Having shown pace at times across the year, Gasly hopes the team can become regulars in the top 10 this year.

"At the end of the day, if you look at the championship, it is pretty simple. The classification is based on who has the least DNFs," he explained.

"We missed a couple of occasions to score points which cost us but sometimes we didn't have the pace and this is how it is.

"We need to be very consistent and try to put ourselves always in the top 10 to fight for an even better position in the championship."

The upcoming season is scheduled to feature 23 races, but the continuing global coronavirus pandemic has already seen a revised schedule issued with the Australian Grand Prix moved from March to November and the Chinese Grand Prix postponed and, at present, without a new date.

Gasly revealed he is focusing on achieving peak physical fitness ahead of the season-opener with the packed schedule allowing little time for training once the season begins.

"During the season, you try to maintain as much physical shape you can," he said.

"You can't train. Training is not as intense as in the off-season so a lot of focus will be on that with 23-races, I have never done this in my life and it is not going to be an easy one.

"Afterwards, just be aware consistently of how the development is going, try to lead the team. Simulators, developments on the aero side, mechanically, like trying to review with the guys with what went well, what didn't work and trying to have a better picture of what we really need to be competitive all year long."