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GP2 champion Gasly ponders options after F1 snub

Pierre Gasly admits his options for the 2017 season remain 'wide open' as he successfully sealed the 2016 GP2 Series title weeks after learning he won't be promoted to F1 next year.

The Red Bull-backed driver succeeded Stoffel Vandoorne as GP2 champion in Abu Dhabi after defeating Prema Racing team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi, Gasly ending the season with four wins and nine podiums to his name.

Initially expected to step up to F1 in 2017 with Scuderia Toro Rosso, Gasly's hopes were dashed in October when Red Bull announced it had signed Daniil Kvyat for another season.

With Gasly at the time expressing surprise and disappointment at being overlooked, in the wake of his title over the weekend he admits he is still unsure how is career will progress in 2017.

"What now? That's a good question! As I said to Helmut [Marko], my only goal is to get into Formula One, so I will always keep pushing for that, but of course you always need an opportunity.

"We will see what happens: at the moment I don't know, and it is wide open, but you can be sure that I will keep pushing with everything to get into Formula One, and we'll see what happens."

With Gasly unable to continue racing in GP2 as defending champion he is set to retain a role as Red Bull reserve driver should he remain part of the Red Bull fold.

Zdroj: crash.net