Gasly banking on PlayStation experience in Shanghai

Pierre Gasly will drive the Shanghai International Circuit for the first time at this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix. The Frenchman delivered the star performance of last weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix, but can only bank on experience of driving this week's track on video games.

A fourth-place finish in the Toro Rosso in Sakhir was the best Formula 1 result for a Honda-powered car in almost a decade.

With its huge back straight, which measures over a kilometre, Toro Rosso might be expected to struggle in Shanghai, but Gasly is confident his inexperience at the track won't be a factor.

"I have only been to the Shanghai International Circuit in my role as reserve driver with Red Bull Racing, so this week will be the first time I actually get to drive on the track," he said.

"It's always exciting to discover a new place and a new circuit and this one looks like being a pretty cool one.

"Like most drivers I use the Playstation and I love driving this circuit on it, so I can't wait to do it for real.

"Those first two corners that seem to go on for ever are particularly challenging. Usually I don't take long to learn a new track, so I hope that's the case, because getting on the pace as quickly as possible on Friday is always the key to a good weekend.

"I haven't spent too much time in Shanghai yet - I'm always excited to explore new cities, it's quite an interesting culture as well, so it's nice to see different ways of living compared to what we are used to either in France or in Europe, even if Shanghai is famous for its "French Quarter" too!"