Should Pierre Gasly voluntarily receive a Grand Prix suspension before joining Alpine ?

Facts : Sanctioned again during the Mexican Grand Prix, Pierre Gasly now has 10 penalty points on his FIA license. If he reaches the number of 12, he will automatically receive a suspension stroke. The pilot Alpha Tauri, who will join Alpine in 2023, therefore finds himself with a sword of Damocles hanging over his head, especially since he will not recover any points before next May. With two races remaining on the calendar this season, we wonder if the Frenchman would not be better off voluntarily receiving a Grand Prix suspension before joining Alpine ?

Yes, by Gonzalo Forbes

And why not, after all ? Two races before the end of the season and his departure from the fold Red Bull for the challenge Alpine, the Norman is in a funny situation. 2 points from a suspended Grand Prix, Pierre Gasly would be wrong not to ask the question as he prepares to sail towards new horizons with the Blues.

In my opinion, it is above all a strategic choice and one that he would be right to make. While he will not erase points from his license before May 22, 2023, one year after his first sanction, why would he risk a suspension from a Grand Prix from the first meetings of the season with Alpine, and this when his adventure with AlphaTauri/Red Bull is already clearly over?

In football, to cite just one example, it has already been possible to see players voluntarily provoke a sanction from the referee. In Ligue 1 for example, a player sanctioned with 3 yellow cards in the space of 10 matches will receive one suspension. Some do it in particular when they do not want to take the risk of being absent for an important meeting, typically a Champions League match. Passionate about football and PSG, Gasly is no stranger to these debates.

If he wants to do it, the Habs only have one more opportunity: the São Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil in two weeks because behind there will be only one race left, in Abu Dhabi, for be on the sidelines. However, he will have to be clever to get these last two penalty points which would cause him to miss the final on November 20. It wouldn't be such bad news for AlphaTauri either.

If Gasly were to be suspended for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Italian team could potentially launch its future driver Nyck de Vries in the deep end. While the Dutchman has just completed his driving program for 2022, Mercedes, the team for which he is a reserve driver, could agree to release him earlier than expected so that he can get his bearings in his new team quickly. Still, only the Norman will make the final decision. It remains to be seen what he will do: cause two penalty points in Brazil or risk a suspension in his first Grands Prix with Alpine. If I were in his place, the choice would already be made!

No, by Dorian Grangier

Before I begin my argument, let's take a few seconds to realize the question. Should Pierre Gasly voluntarily receive a suspension before joining Alpine…Who would have thought they would ask this question one day! The problem, because there is one, is that we are asking ourselves this question seriously! 

And no, the Norman must absolutely avoid taking his last two penalty points which would put him on the sidelines for the duration of a Grand Prix. For what ? Because it’s common sense! Which driver wants to be suspended because of his behavior on the track? Person ! He has nothing to gain: his reputation would take a big hit, and he would go down in history as the first driver suspended since the introduction of the points license in 2014. 

Suffering a suspension voluntarily for Abu Dhabi would also be a completely unsightly way of leaving AlphaTauri and the Red Bull fold. A lack of respect towards the institution which trained him and which propelled him towards the Formula 1. Especially since the Italian team needs its leader until the last moments, in a very important battle against Haas, Aston Martin et Alfa Romeo among manufacturers. The slightest point scored can be worth millions! 

Seeking the penalty at all costs is also dangerous, to come back to common sense. Dangerous for himself and others. No one drives with the sole aim of being penalized. Imagine if the FIA ​​considers that the Frenchman committed an offense completely deliberately! Believe me, the sanction could be even more severe than a simple suspension from a Grand Prix, and the message sent to young aspiring drivers would be disastrous.

Certainly, Gasly will take an important step in his career by joining Alpine, a factory team which is also French. Certainly, Gasly would like to start this new adventure without the sword of Damocles hanging over his head... but that is not a reason to do anything at the end of the season with the sole aim of being cleared of his license on points!

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