Gasly: People claimed I said things I never said

A storm erupted after the Italian Grand Prix after it was reported that Red Bull junior driver Pierre Gasly was expecting to be fast-tracked into the Toro Rosso team by replacing Daniil Kvyat for the Singapore Grand Prix.

Red Bull's driver consultant Helmut Marko, irked by the reports, categorically denied that the ousting of Kvyat was imminent and confirmed that the Russian would stay with the team until, the end of the season and perhaps beyond that too.

Gasly explained to how the issue exploded, "During an interview, they said: Some rumours claim that you will be driving in Singapore."

"When they said this, I replied: Will I? Really? Let’s hope it’s true. I must see with Helmut what they have decided."

"Then, during the interview, I just told them that I was hoping to get to F1 as early as possible and doing my best. That really is what I want for next year, that’s my goal.

"Based on these words, someone claimed that I had said I was going to replace Daniil in Singapore. Yet, I never said that, it never happened. It created a whole controversy."

"It wasn’t necessarily very nice, because those people claimed that I had said things that I had never said, and that didn’t necessarily show me to my advantage. It’s sad to see that some people make up scoops like this, just to cause a stir. That’s how it is."

Gasly revealed how Marko reacted to the explanation, "He told me: Call the journalist to get things straight, because it’s not good to have such rumours going around."

"I got things straight with Helmut, but it shows that there are not only people who try to help drivers, others try to make me look like someone I’m not. It’s unfortunate, but that’s how it is," added Gasly.