Gasly looked in with a good chance at a promotion to Formula 1 for much of 2016, tipped by many to replace Daniil Kvyat, who had struggled at Toro Rosso in the immediate aftermath of being demoted from the main Red Bull team.

However, as the Frenchman sat second in the GP2 standings with a round to go, Kvyat was confirmed at Toro Rosso for another year, leaving Gasly no room among Red Bull's four F1 seats for 2017.

Gasly, who admitted then he didn't understand Red Bull's line-up decision, went on to clinch the GP2 crown in Abu Dhabi.

"When you put a lot of energy, time and work, you're disappointed to miss out on the opportunity," Gasly said in a recent interview with French radio channel RMC.

"I think they [Red Bull] saw that I was doing my best to make it. That's what they like.

"Helmut liked the way I reacted. He pushes me and supports me well. The relationship has been better for the last two or three months, even though the decision didn't go my way.

"He supports me, pushes me and motivates me to keep giving it all, knowing that things can change very quickly in F1."

Right place, wrong time

Gasly, who is set to race in Japan's Super Formula next year, says he was reassured by Red Bull that he remained in contention for an F1 nod past 2017.

"When they made the decision, I was in a good position for the [GP2] title, so I was very disappointed and sad for sure. It's very difficult to come to terms with such news. It's part of the game.

"I was told that I was at the right place at the wrong time, that they had to keep Kvyat for another year, that I was very young, that they were happy with my job and that I should keep giving my best, pushing for my opportunity.

"They told me things should change within a year and I should keep giving my best, as things can change very quickly in F1."

Additional reporting by Benjamin Vinel