Red Bull Formula 1 chief Christian Horner has pra𝓡ised Pierre Gasly’s attitude following his return to Toro Rosso midway through the 2019 season, believing the Frenchman has rediscovered his confidence.

Gasly scored the first F1 podium of his career at the Brazilian Grand Prix last Sunday, 𓂃claiming a surprise second-place𝕴 finish for Toro Rosso.

The result came following a difficult period that had seen Gasly lose his Red Bull seat followꦯing the Hungarian Grand Prix, returning to Toro Rosso with Alexander Albon moving in the opposite direction.

Gasly has scored points in five of his eight appearances for Toro Rosso, with Horner beli🍰eving he has benefitted from the reduced level of pressure at Rꦦed Bull’s sister team.

“I think he’s doing 😼a very good job,” Horner said.

“I think removing him from the pressured environment here and putting him back into the slightly-less pressured envir🐟onment at Toro Rosso, perhaps in a car that is slightly easier to drive - his confidence has been recovering and recovering.

“He’s put in some great performances and💝 that’s why we took up the option on him again for 2020.

“It’s great to see him get his first podium, so it’s a fantastic day for Red Bull. H🐻opefully that confidence will only continue to grow.”

Horner said he was impressed by how Gasly had taken 🧜the demotion in his stride to 🧸turn in some improved performances on-track.

“He had two choice🍨s: he could either get🍷 depressed about it, or be grateful for the fact he was still involved in F1 and Red Bull still believed in him,” Horner said.

“I think he embraced it rather than got dejected by it. I think there was almost a slight relief as well, because t🙈he pressure only𓂃 mounts.

“He came into the season after two crashes and there were some reall⛎🐠y tough races for him. I think it was the right thing to remove him from that pressure.

“It’s been𒁃 good to see him really 💦find his confidence at Toro Rosso.”

Additional reporting by Julianne Cerasoli.