Gasly worried 'high-pressure season' will scupper F1 hope

Pierre Gasly has revealed he is attempting to lower his expectations ahead of the new season in order to not be let down by the pecking order.

Alpine endured a troubled start to last year's campaign and was sometimes the slowest team on the grid.

It managed to make steps forward during the season and moved to the front of the midfield fight, bagging a surprise double podium at a rain-affected Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Alpine is targeting further steps forward this year - but Gasly is not getting roped into setting his expectations too high.

“You imagine all these scenarios and when you get to the first test, then you finally get all the answers that you've been looking for,” Gasly told media including RacingNews365.

“Over the years in the winter, I just try to focus really on myself and what I need to reset mentally, do my physical preparations, enjoy the stuff I can't really do during the in-season.

“When I get to Bahrain then you start to get a few answers of how the grid is looking like, how the car is behaving, whether this is going to be true or not.

“Deep inside me, I hope that the field is extremely tight, but I don't want to be disappointed if we come to Australia and suddenly the Williams is flying, or the Haas is flying.”

Gasly detailed his goal is to see the team continue to fight at the front of the midfield and even mix it up with the front-runners if an opportunity presents itself.

“It's important just to stay open-minded,” he said.

“Deep inside me, I want us to be the best of the midfield and challenge the top four on some occasions, like we’ve done at the end of last year.

“I really hope it's going to be possible. Unfortunately, it's not in my control. I think it will be one of these seasons, it's going to be a high-pressure season.

“Last year, we've seen some top teams, if you want, Lewis [Hamilton] on some occasions, Checo [Perez] and some guys being very close with the fine margins in Q1. 

“It’s better when you have that pressure moment and you have to deliver every lap.”