Did Horner and Marko know all along as Albon replaces Gasly

Red Bull made the shock announcement that Pierre Gasly would drop down to Toro Rosso for the second half of the season with Alex Albon replacing him at Red Bull. It came out of the blue but what did Helmut Marko and Christian Horner say before Gasly's departure was confirmed?

Albon will partner Max Verstappen for the second half of the season with Red Bull looking towards 2020. Gasly had been under intense pressure but he was expected to keep his place until the end of the season, at least that is what Christian Horner told us...

As quoted by Autosport, Horner said: "I think he really needs to take some time out during the summer break, reflect on the first half of the season and take the lessons from that into the second half of the year.

Marko meanwhile was critical of Gasly following the Hungarian Grand Prix but he wouldn't be drawn on his future.

"At the start, he lost a number of positions and then nothing went. He is also not the best overtaker. You have seen other drivers how difficult it was to catch up. So yes, at the start he lost it," Marko said regarding the race at the Hungaroring.

Marko refused to comment on his future, adding: "We are now going into the summer vacation, we will see further later."