Gasly caused a stir at Monza after a television interview he did for Spanish TV was claimed by some to suggest he would be driving for Toro Rosso in place of Daniil Kvyat at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Marko moved instantly to rubbish the idea of Gasly stepping in to replace Kvyat, and went as far as suggesting that the young Frenchman would never have been so "stupid" to have made such a claim.

Gasly has subsequently revealed that he has cleared the matter up with Marko – and thinks the whole drama was caused by people misinterpreting what he had actually said.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Gasly said: “During the interview, they told me: 'Some rumours claim that you will be driving in Singapore'. When they said this, I replied 'Will I? Really? Let's hope it's true. I must see with Helmut what they have decided'.

“Then, during the interview, I just told them that I was hoping to get to F1 as early as possible and doing my best. That really is what I want for next year, that's my goal.

“Based on these words, someone claimed that I had said I was going to replace Daniil in Singapore. Yet, I never said that, it never happened.

“It created a whole controversy and it wasn't necessarily very nice, because those people claimed that I had said things that I had never said, and that didn't necessarily show me to my advantage.

“It's sad to see that some people make up scoops like this, just to cause a stir. That's how it is.”

Marko talks

Marko himself was shocked when it was put him on live television that Gasly had made claims on Spanish TV that he was driving in Singapore.

Gasly says that he spoke at length with Marko afterwards to explain exactly what happened and the pair quickly sorted everything out.

“Helmut called me afterwards to know what actually happened,” he said. “That's what he said in the other interview, 'I don't think Pierre is stupid enough to say something like that', so he called me, he asked me 'What happened?'.

“I told him they had mentioned the rumour – since Spa, people have kept telling me at each grand prix that I'd drive in the following race.

"I just told them that I was going to see with Helmut whether it was true and that, in any case, I hoped I would make it to F1 and I was going to do my best to get there as early as possible.

“He told me: 'Call the journalist to get things straight, because it's not good to have such rumours going around'. I got things straight with Helmut, but it shows that there are not only people who try to help drivers, others try to make me look like someone I'm not. It's unfortunate, but that's how it is.”

2017 hopes

Gasly remains hopeful that he will get considered for the second Toro Rosso seat next year, but knows that the final decision is not down to him.

“For sure, winning races, it can only look better and better,” he said about his prospects for next year.

“I hope I'll have news as early as possible about my plans for next year, but for now, we're still discussing with Helmut and Red Bull to see what the best solution is, for them and for me, regarding next year.”

Interview by Benjamin Vinel