SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium -- Pierre Gasly can remember the exact time he was told he was losing his Red Bull seat -- 8.42am on the morning of the news being made public in early August.
Just a week into F1's summer break, Red Bull confirmed it was sending the out-of-form Frenchman back to Toro Rosso and promoting rookie Alexander Albon to the senior team.
Just a week earlier, after the Hungarian Grand Prix, Red Bull boss Christian Horner had said it was the team's intention to see out the season with Gasly at the helm.