AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost has insisted Pierre Gasly still harbours "fantastic potential" and believes the Frenchman can "100 per cent" be competitive if provided with the correct machinery in 2022.
Gasly was one of the standout performers in F1 last season with numerous top six appearances and a podium to show for his efforts, ending the year ninth in the drivers' standings behind only the Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren drivers.
Despite his performances, Red Bull opted against taking the 2020 Italian Grand Prix winner back into the team after dropping him midway through 2019 and instead deciding to retain Sergio Perez.
Asked in an interview including GPFans how much Gasly can keep improving after his stellar season, Tost said: "He has fantastic potential.
"What's important is I have still the feeling he can improve because that's decisive then if you are on this level. If we provide him next year with a competitive car, he will be there 100 per cent.
"From the driving, he has now the experience of how to set up the car, how to manage the tyres, he can read the race, which is very important, he is on the radio, the questions he is asking, and he made this year another big step forward, a real big step forward.