Honda motorsport boss Masashi Yamamoto is open to Pierre Gasly running in the final round of the Super Formula series but would prefer the Toro Rosso driver continue in F1.
Following Carlos Sainz’s early move to Renault for the US Grand Prix, it was believed Gasly would line-up alongside Dany Kvyat at Austin as the Russian is brought back to race for the Faenza-based outfit.
Reports earlier today from Suzuka however claimed that Honda’s priority was to see the French driver run in the Super Formula series finale which takes place on the same weekend as the US Grand Prix.
But Honda’s Yamamoto has since revealed that the manufacturer would prefer Gasly, who is expected to race full-time with Toro Rosso in 2018, continues his apprenticeship in F1.
- Gasly not guaranteed Austin start with Toro Rosso
“We believe Gasly should race in Austin with Toro Rosso,” Honda motorsport boss Masashi Yamamoto told Motorsport.com.
“We want him to race there but if there is anybody who can drive instead of Gasly in Austin, we’re happy to have him in Super Formula. We are not pushing for him to race in Super Formula.”
“Of course it is important for Honda to win the Super Formula title in Japan but we think the priority is having him in F1,” he said.
“Helmut Marko thinks it is important to have the Super Formula title but he also thinks Formula 1 is the priority so we agree in that point of view.”
For the sake of stability and to help Gasly get a head start for 2018, keeping the Frenchman on board is the most likely scenario, and certainly the one which Gasly himself most favours.
The 21-year-old finished Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix 13th after a massive lock-up forced him to pit earlier than expected, which in turn led to lost time.
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