Gasly: Not my wish to destroy Verstappen

Pierre Gasly is excited to go head-to-head with Max Verstappen at Red Bull next season, but insists their rivalry will be a friendly one. Gasly will replace the Renault-bound Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull next year, with Verstappen's influence over the team seeming to grow.

After Ricciardo stunned the Formula 1 world by confirming his Red Bull departure, reports suggested that the Australian had grown frustrated over the team's plan to favour Verstappen – although the Australian was quick to insist his relationship with his stable-mate remains strong.

Earlier this year, Verstappen said that he was Dr Helmut Marko's "project" – similar to Sebastian Vettel, who won four world titles at Red Bull between 2010-2013.

However, Gasly will not accept second billing to Verstappen in 2019 and has set lofty goals for himself from the off.

"You always need the time to get used to everything, but hopefully I will be quick to work with the team and the car," he told Ziggo.

"I've known the team at Red Bull Racing for a while and at their request I have already been in the simulator and I hope to be at ease soon.

"It's not my wish to destroy Max. We are both drivers and of course I am going there to be the best. I want to be the best Formula 1 driver on the grid and he has the same desire.

"It's nice to have someone next to you who is so fast, so you can bring out the best in each other, we're going to experience great times."

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