A few days ago, rumours surfaced that Red Bull were growing impatient with Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg was being eyed as a replacement. However, Red Bull then came out and flatly denied the claims, as did Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg.

Now, Gasly has named and shamed the journalist saying that he made up a ‘silly season’ story. The story originated from Motorsport.com’s Roberto Chinchero and he suggested that Nico Hulkenberg was in line to replace Gasly.

The Renault driver slammed the news, calling it “fake news”. He said, “It was made up, basically.”

Pierre Gasly insisted that he is enjoying the full support of Red Bull and Dr Helmut Marko. Speaking to La Presse in Canada, he fumed, “This is not the kind of people with very good values if they write articles based on nothing at all.”

“Coming from someone with so much experience like Mr Chinchero, it’s a little disappointing.”

According to Gasly, his relationship with Marko has been quite good indeed. Pierre Gasly continued, “He’s been really supportive and he sees and knows everything that happens inside the team.”

“I still feel that I am far from getting the full potential from myself at the moment. But from race to race I can see and feel that things are getting better.”

Another victim of the silly season rumours, was Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel. The German hit out at the media for suggesting that retirement was on the cards for him.

“I never said anything like that so I don’t know where it has come from,” said the German.

“I think I can stop whenever I want and the team can probably kick me out whenever they want, but I am very happy with the team and I hope the team is happy with me.

“I understand that a part of the journalist’s job is to try to, not make things up but try to come up with something interesting. But they can do what they want and I will do what I want.”