Gasly: Too many people critical of Formula 1

Pierre Gasly believes that “way too many people” are critical of Formula 1.

Last season was talked down due to a lack of on-track action from the higher-downforce cars, with data from Pirelli confirming that the number of passes almost halved relative to 2016.

There was also widespread criticism over the spate of grid penalties which marred the season, including negative commentary from F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn.

However, Gasly was reluctant to heap on further criticism when asked about grid penalties given what has been said already.

“I don’t want to talk negative about Formula 1 because I think there are way too many people who are talking about it in a negative way,” the 2017 rookie told Autosport.

“And it is a great series, great cars and people should be more positive about it.”

The Frenchman, whose Scuderia Toro Rosso team was among those most affected by the engine penalties, had a grid drop of over 20 places in two of his five races at the end of last year while team-mate Brendon Hartley copped engine penalties in all four of his grand prix weekends.

While Gasly claimed that there was too much negativity surrounding F1, he admitted he was not a fan of the current penalty situation.

“It is definitely one of the points which are a bit s##t in F1,” he said. “When you qualify in a position, you want to start in that position.

“It’s like sometimes a race between all the guys that have penalties – ‘will you change your MGU-H, your MGU-K, because this guy has 10 positions and if you change this you can have 15, but then you are after him, but then there is another one who has 25…’

“It’s not something which is really sexy and exciting, especially like it was for me (in Mexico). No free practice, nothing.

“I was watching the other guys running on track. And then after you start last.

“That is something hopefully they will be able to change. Doesn’t look like it for this year.

“But all drivers agree that it is a bit boring, all these kind of penalties, because we cannot do anything about it.

“It is an engine problem, engine manufacturers’ problems, and it just penalises all of us.”