I’ve proved F1 is possible without money: Gasly

London : Toro Rosso driver Pierre Gasly says his Formula 1 break should encourage young drivers by showing it is not “all about money”.

The 21-year-old Frenchman gets his first full F1 campaign with Red Bull’s junior outfit Toro Rosso this year.

He joined the Red Bull programme after winning the Formula Renault Eurocup title back in 2013, and has since added a GP2 crown and runner-up finishes in Formula Renault 3.5 and Super Formula.

Reflecting on his path to F1, Gasly said: “In the end, we all know it’s not always about performance. You need to have strong back-up.

“I didn’t have any manager, so I was in a way alone, fighting against all the big sharks in this paddock and trying to make my place.

“And I’m really happy I managed to do it without any manager and without paying for my seat.

“Because now it’s pretty tough to make it, it is also good for the young drivers [to see] it is still possible, you can make it.

“It is not all about money. It is possible to do it without.”

While on the way to the 2016 GP2 title, Gasly had set his sights on racing for Toro Rosso in ‘17 - but he was overlooked, only to receive a mid-season call-up as a result of Daniil Kvyat’s demotion.

Gasly said he was always convinced he would get himself on the F1 grid.